Category: Working with communities to feel safe

Police crack down on anti-social behaviour in Guildford thanks to funding secured through Commissioner’s office

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

A crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Guildford is under way thanks to funding secured by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and partners.

The town was one of three Surrey areas awarded a combined total of almost £1million last year as part of the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.

Guildford was granted £273,000 to combat anti-social behaviour, or ASB, which can include everything from harassment and rowdy, inconsiderate behaviour to noise nuisance and criminal damage.

Surrey Police, working closely with key stakeholders including Guildford Borough Council and Experience Guildford, are now working to drive down reports in the town centre.

A recent survey of residents revealed that incidents are most likely to occur at weekends between 12noon and 8pm.

Police crackdown

To tackle the problem, Guildford’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, Guildford Borough Council, and Experience Guildford joined forces with Lisa’s team to secure Safer Streets funding.

The scheme targets specific crime issues in communities around the country with the aim of reducing offending.

Redhill and Walton-upon-Thames were also both awarded funds through Safer Streets.

Guildford’s tranche of funding has been used to pay for street marshals, who patrol ASB hotspots around the town centre at weekends during the peak times of offending.

It has also been used to bolster youth engagement.

Safer Streets success

In addition, there has been an increase in officer visibility within the town centre, with more patrols taking place during peak times.

Partners have also been working closely with businesses in the town, many of which are funding and implementing their own measures to support the project and tackle ASB.

A multi-agency operation which also involves British Transport Police, The Friary and other local businesses has already kick-started within the town on certain Sundays in a bid to identify and prevent the causes of ASB.

In addition, newly-designed digital posters are being displayed around Guildford, including at the train station, at bus stops and aboard buses, and a social media campaign aimed at young people and their parents has launched. The campaign warns that ASB is not welcome anywhere in the town.

Guildford Borough Commander Blaine Rafferty said: “We’ve been working closely with local partners to introduce these new measures to help tackle antisocial behaviour in Guildford.

“It’s a priority”

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy our town centre and feel safe. This funding has allowed us to put our focus on ASB hotspots in town, and areas where the wider community has raised concerns. 

“ASB is a priority for us. We have plain-clothed officers supporting uniformed colleagues in Guildford identifying any nuisance, inconsiderate behaviour or criminal activity. 

“They will be operating in the town centre on a regular basis to help Guildford be a safe environment for all.” 

Lisa said: “I’m really pleased that our Office has played a key part in securing the funding for this project in Guildford that will address the concerns of local residents around issues including theft, criminal damage and substance misuse in their town centre.  

“As well as preventing crime, I am proud that the work with local partners will also boost the engagement with children and young people that is a core part of keeping our communities safe for everyone.” 

Commissioner’s pride

Lead councillor for regulatory services, Councillor Merel Rehorst-Smith, said: “I’m delighted with the summer campaign targeting antisocial behaviour.

“It’s so important that we all respect one another and collectively stand up and say ‘no’ to behaviour that is unacceptable in our town.  

“By working together, we can all help make sure our town continues to be a great place to live, work and do business.  A town to be proud of, where everyone feels welcome, can be authentic and feel valued.” 

Pete Lambert, town safety and venue liaison manager at Experience Guildford said: “We fully endorse this campaign to help reduce ASB in Guildford town centre through strong partnership working with Surrey Police, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner and Guildford Borough Council.” 

Commissioner joins local officers preventing anti-social behaviour and crime in Surrey Heath

Posted on | by James Smith

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend joined officers across Surrey Heath as they carried out coordinated operations to help stamp out anti-social behaviour and crime across the borough.

At the end of July, the Commissioner took part in targeted patrols aimed at reducing crime in the areas that had received the most reports of crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB), followed by a visit to ‘pop-up’ club that gave children and young people a place to be in the evening with support from local officers and specialist youth workers.

Together with Surrey Heath Borough Council, Surrey Police teams carried out patrols to prevent illegal fishing and anti-social driving, speeding enforcement and test purchasing using young people to deter the sale of vapes and knives to people who are underage.

Visits to local retailers took place to discuss their concerns and licensing checks were carried out with local taxi firms.

While all of the activities are carried out by Surrey Police and partners on a regular basis – the day coordinated these actions to help boost visible policing, engage with residents and build on the joint intelligence that helps to identify longer term solutions to the problems that are reported by local people and businesses.

It comes after the Force carried out an extra 900 patrols, arresting 34 people as part of a boost to police funding that was secured by the Commissioner’s team earlier this year.

That funding is now paying for an increase in the hotspot patrols that are being carried out by Surrey Police officers and partners, starting in 15 areas across the county.

In the last four years, an additional £2m funding from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund has also been used to deliver bespoke community safety improvements by local police teams and the local councils in eight of Surrey’s boroughs.

Surrey remains one of the safest counties in England and Wales and these operations are focused on stopping ASB and crime from growing.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said, “I was delighted to join the coordinated actions by officers that are directly addressing those concerns that you have told me are important to you in the Surrey Heath area.

“During the day, I witnessed the hard work of local teams and our partners at Surrey Heath Borough Council that are acting visibly to deter anti-social behaviour and crimes such as shoplifting that are often linked to a bigger picture of organised crime in our communities.

“That work is vital and it was accompanied by a range of less visible actions that are just as important to keeping our communities safe; such as working with retailers to report crime and prevent underage sales, ensuring visitors and residents are kept safe at night and investing in the relationship between our officers and children and young people.”

Residents are urged to report crime at surrey.police.uk, by calling 101 or sending a direct message on official Surrey Police social media channels. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Anyone who witnesses or is concerned about anti-social behaviour can find out how to report it at healthysurrey.org.uk/community-safety/asb

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa standing by supermarket trolleys

Commissioner dispels shoplifting “myth” – and says the offence is a top priority for police in Surrey

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has moved to “myth-bust” claims that police won’t investigate lower-value shoplifting incidents – after joining an undercover sting at an East Surrey supermarket.

Lisa Townsend said “persistent rumours” that police will fail to respond to incidents where the total value of items stolen is less than £200 are “categorically untrue”.

The Commissioner joined a recent plain-clothes operation to tackle shoplifting at Sainsbury’s in Redhill. During the initiative, a suspected offender was detained after allegedly stealing items worth just £7.50.

While Surrey has some of the lowest levels of shoplifting in the country, reports rose by 26 per cent between December 2022 and 2023. The figure is reflective of national trends.

Myth-busting

The Force uses uniformed patrols in hotspots, plain-clothes operations and public engagement to tackle shoplifting.

Their approach has resulted in a number of recent successes.

Within recent months, the work of a single officer who was initially tasked with investigating shoplifting at a branch of Tesco in Guildford uncovered an alleged two years of offending by a gang based in Essex. Six people have now been charged with a total of 86 offences for conspiracy to commit theft from a shop.

Lisa was quizzed on Surrey Police’s response to the offence during a meeting with Dorking’s Business Improvement District.

The Commissioner said: “For many years now, there has been a persistent rumour that police will only investigate reports of shoplifting where the value exceeds £200.

“This is categorically untrue, and it’s time to myth-bust this particular story.

“It is true that police may not visit a business immediately, depending on the threat or risk or harm reported.

“However, the Chief Constable has been clear that ultimately, he wants to see all reports investigated, whether the loss is £5 or £5,000.

“I recently watched as a suspected shoplifter was arrested on suspicion of stealing items worth just £7.50.

‘We take it very seriously’

“Reports of shoplifting are rising throughout the UK.

We know that much of this increase is fuelled by organised gangs who are stealing to order, targeting higher-value items to sell on to members of the public struggling with the cost of living.

“Shoplifting also often goes hand-in-hand with violence, threats and abuse directed at retail staff.

“It’s crucial that Surrey Police, as well as every other force in the country, treats these offences with the seriousness they deserve.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and Deputy PCC Ellie Vesey-Thompson with Keely Glithero and Sue Murphy from Catalyst Support

Great-gran, 93, and woman forced to sleep on kitchen floor are among “hidden” Surrey victims of cuckooing

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A WOMAN forced to sleep on the kitchen floor of her own home and a 93-year-old great-grandmother are among the “hidden” Surrey victims of a little-known form of exploitation, Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said.

Cuckooing involves criminals taking over the homes of vulnerable people to use for offences including sex work and county lines drug dealing.

Lisa partly funds Surrey’s gold-standard Cuckooing Service, run by Catalyst Support, contributing £54,000 from her Community Safety Fund in the past financial year.

The service supports victims, provides advice to those at risk and helps prevent the risk of a property being closed by the courts.

Great-gran cuckooed

Since it launched in 2018, it has received 518 referrals from across the county. Of the vulnerable people supported, 14 per cent lived in accommodation that they either privately rented or owned, seven per cent were aged 70 or above, and 15 per cent had no history of drug or alcohol misuse.

One victim, who lost the use of her own bedroom and was forced to sleep in her kitchen, begged police officers for help after a chance sighting in the street. Another returned home to find a drug production line in their property, while a third victim’s contact details were sold to an inmate in prison as part-payment for synthetic cannabis Spice.

Lisa said: “Cuckooing is a deeply disturbing form of exploitation that can affect people of all backgrounds.

“However, victims are usually vulnerable in some way, with single mums, victims of domestic abuse, those with a history of substance misuse, sex workers and young people who have experienced the care system all among those most likely to be cuckooed.

“Criminals take advantage of this vulnerability in the cruellest possible way, by turning safe refuges into prisons.

Victim’s details sold in prison

“The harm caused to these victims is devastating, although cuckooing can impact entire communities. In fact, police often become aware of cuckooing when neighbours call in severe anti-social behaviour.

“Troublingly, most victims of cuckooing will remain hidden, both from police and from agencies poised to help them out of danger, like Catalyst Support’s fantastic Cuckooing Service.

“But if you’re in this terrible situation, there are ways out. In the past year, Catalyst Support has disrupted 15 organised criminal groups, known as OCGs, and 34 local drug dealers.

“They are changing lives, and I urge anyone in need of their support in Surrey to get in touch.

Commissioner’s pride

“This is a gold-standard, nationally –recognised service, and I’m incredibly proud to fund it.”

Cuckooing service manager at Catalyst Support, Keely Glithero, said: “Cuckooing becoming a crime is key for victims, so that this abhorrent act is recognised.

“To the perpetrators, it sends the message that this is not acceptable and to the victims, that they are being seen.

“Our service provides empowering, trustful support, improving community safety and the resilience of adults at risk. We also work with perpetrators.”

For more information, visit catalystsupport.org.uk, call 01483 590150, or text 07909 631623.

Lisa Townsend, in yellow, and her Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, on right, visited the Cuckooing Service to learn more about the impact on victims

Ellie Vesey-Thompson reappointed as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for another term

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Ellie Vesey-Thompson has been formally reappointed as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Ellie is committed to continuing her work giving young people a voice in policing, putting a renewed focus on policing issues in rural communities, and listening to the views of officers and staff.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend appointed Ellie as her deputy following her first election win in 2021. Ellie will now continue in her role after Lisa was successfully re-elected last month for the next PCC term, which ends in 2028.

Ellie attended a confirmation hearing with Surrey’s Police and Crime Panel on Thursday last week. Members recommended her reappointment.

She has a background in policy, communications and youth engagement, and holds both a degree in Politics and a Graduate Diploma in Law.

Deputy reappointed

“It’s been a huge privilege to serve as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for the past three years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue in role. I am really proud of what we have already achieved since I was first appointed in 2021,” Ellie said.

“We have supported a broad range of organisations and services across Surrey with millions of pounds of funding, including through the dedicated Children and Young People’s Fund introduced by the Commissioner and I.

“This has supported a variety of projects and initiatives, including our innovative teacher training programme to help tackle violence against women and girls from a young age, Safer Streets projects to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in many communities across our county, and projects aimed at diverting young people away from crime and exploitation.

Years of success

“Tackling rural crime, empowering young people, supporting veterans, and listening to frontline officers and staff are the four main pillars of my role in Surrey.

“I was delighted to launch Surrey’s first-ever Youth Commission, which allows young people to have a say on policing in the county. The Youth Commission are now in their second year, and I continue to oversee their work and look forward to hearing their latest set of recommendations in the autumn.

“Engaging with our farmers and other members of our rural communities is incredibly important to me, to help build confidence in policing and encourage better reporting of rural crime.

“Over the last three years, I have met and spent time with many Surrey Police officers and members of staff across a range of different policing teams.

“I will continue to be an advocate”

“I have seen at close quarters the dedication and hard work that goes into keeping our county safe.

“I will continue to be an advocate for the fantastic policing service they provide.”

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Ellie has played a key part in helping me represent the views of the public in how police our county and I am delighted to welcome her formally back to the role of Deputy.

“When I was elected in May, I pledged to focus on my policing priorities on what our residents want to see – our officers doing the job only they can, investigating and solving crime and taking offenders off our streets.

“I believe Ellie is the right person to help me deliver on that promise and we are already working together on drawing up my new Police and Crime Plan for the county.”

Dozens of arrests amid Redhill crime crackdown funded by Surrey Commissioner

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A partnership initiative to improve safety in Redhill has resulted in 54 arrests along with the recovery of drugs, cash and knives.

Surrey Police’s targeted activity is part of a comprehensive community plan to reduce crime and help foster pride in the town centre.   

Earlier this year, Surrey Police, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and YMCA East Surrey announced they had joined forces with local partners to address crime and anti-social behaviour in Redhill.

This action followed a survey for residents and visitors to the town which highlighted community concerns around anti-social behaviour (ASB), drugs, shoplifting and violent crime.

Over the past six months, partners have been developing and implementing measures to reduce crime in Redhill. The project adopts the College of Policing’s ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ framework, which brings together police, partners and the community to disrupt serious and organised crime and importantly, sustain a reduction in criminal behaviour.

This is a three-phased approach where targeted disruptions aim to ‘clear’ offenders from Redhill, followed by sustained intervention to ‘hold’ the area free from crime. The ‘build’ phase focuses on preventative work, driven by the community, to address the root causes of ASB and crime in the town.

As part of this initiative, Surrey Police is conducting proactive operations within Redhill to target and remove criminals operating in the town. This is some of the police activity that has taken place over the past two months:

  • 54 arrests for offences including drugs, drink driving, assault, shoplifting, going equipped for burglary and immigration offences.
  • 20 people charged and 39 community resolutions for lower-level offences.
  • 200+ searches with 26 drug seizures, along with the recovery of £17,700 in cash and seven knives.
  • Joint operations at Redhill train station with British Transport Police and rail enforcement officers to target county lines drug dealing.
  • Night-time patrols of the town centre with plain clothed behaviour detection officers to identify suspicious or predatory behaviour.
  • Work with local businesses to conduct days of action focused on stopping shoplifters.
  • 11 joint licensing visits with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council to support premises in keeping patrons safe.
  • Patrols of the surrounding road network to disrupt criminals and target driving offences.
  • Regular community engagement in the town centre and with local schools.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Commander Inspector Jon Vale said: “This initiative is about reducing crime in Redhill for the long-term.

“Surrey remains the fourth safest county in the UK, but from speaking with residents, we know there are concerns about specific patterns of behaviour within the town.

“It’s important that we are challenging all levels of criminality, as often it can be through disrupting offences such as anti-social behaviour and shoplifting we can see the links, and look to prevent, serious and organised crime in the area.

“The increase in arrests reflects the targeted operations taking place in Redhill and I want to reassure residents that it’s this activity that is helping us to identify and root out criminal behaviour.

Crime crackdown

“The collaborative effort from partners and the community has been fantastic, and the sustained work on measures within the community I hope will have a lasting impact.”

Safer Redhill is supported by funding secured through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, including £265,000 of Safer Streets funding and £58,000 from the Community Safety Fund.

Surrey Police is working closely with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and YMCA East Surrey to implement some of the measures made possible through this funding which support the ‘hold’ and ‘build’ phase of the project, such as a new youth bus.

Council leader Councillor Richard Biggs said: “It’s exciting to be part of Safer Redhill, which is bringing partners together to take pride in the town centre and make sure everyone can enjoy the many great things Redhill has to offer safely.

Dozens of arrests

“Our community safety, enforcement, licencing and cleansing teams are all working closely with the police and YMCA youth workers to address both the causes and effects of anti-social behaviour and crime.

“The response from local businesses, the Redhill Business Guild and community organisations has been amazing.

“My thanks go to all involved in this project and I want to encourage people living in or visiting Redhill to get involved too and report any concerns they may have.”

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, joined officers in Redhill on Thursday to observe an operation to target shoplifting in the town.

‘Redhill is a hostile place for criminals’

She said: “Our local police teams are working incredibly hard to ensure Redhill is a hostile place for criminals, so I am delighted to see this the impact this targeted action is having in the town.

“Initiatives like Clear, Hold, Build show just how important close partnership working is for agencies to identify problems and tackle them effectively them for the benefit of our local communities.

“I know that anti-social behaviour, violence, drug dealing and shoplifting have been key issues that have blighted the town centre and we are determined to drive this sort of criminality out of Redhill.

“I hope the sustained activity will continue to make the area a safer place for local residents and help restore pride in where they live.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend sat with a member of Surrey Police contact staff

Commissioner hails dramatic improvement in 999 and 101 call answering times – as best results on record are achieved

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has hailed the dramatic improvement in how long it takes Surrey Police to answer calls for help after new figures revealed that current waiting times are the lowest on record.

The Commissioner said that in the last five months, Surrey Police has seen sustained progress in how quickly callers to the 999 and non-emergency 101 numbers are able to speak to contact centre staff.

The latest data shows that, as of this February, 97.8 per cent of 999 calls were answered within the national target of 10 seconds. This compares to only 54% in March last year, and is the highest data on Force record.

Meanwhile, the average time in February that it took Surrey Police to answer calls to the non-emergency 101 number fell to 36 seconds, the lowest wait times on Force record. This compares to 715 seconds in March 2023.

The figures have this week been verified by Surrey Police. In January 2024, the Force answered almost 93 per cent of 999 calls within ten seconds, BT has verified.

In January 2024, the Force answered almost 93 per cent of 999 calls within ten seconds. The February figures have been confirmed by the Force, and awaiting verification from call provider BT.

In December last year, a report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Services (HMICFRS) highlighted concerns around the service residents receive when they contact police on 999, 101 and digital 101.

Inspectors visited Surrey Police during the summer as part of their Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) review. They rated the Force’s performance in responding to the public as ‘inadequate’ and said improvements were needed.

The Commissioner and the Chief Constable also heard residents’ experiences of contacting Surrey Police during the recent ‘Policing Your Community’ roadshow where in-person and online events were held in all 11 boroughs across the county.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I know from speaking to residents that being able to get hold of Surrey Police when you need them is absolutely vital.

Lowest wait times on record

“Unfortunately there were times last year when residents calling 999 and 101 were not always getting the service they deserved and this was a situation that urgently needed to be addressed.

“I know how frustrating it has been for some people trying to get through, particularly to the non-emergency 101 during busy times.

“I have spent a lot of time in our contact centre seeing how our call handlers deal with the varied and often challenging calls they receive and they do a phenomenal job.

“But staff shortages were putting an incredible strain on them and I know the Force have been working incredibly hard to improve the situation and the service our public receive.

“Phenomenal job”

“My office has been supporting them throughout that process so I am delighted to see that the answering times are the best they have ever been.

“That means that when our residents do need to contact Surrey Police, they are having their call answered quickly and efficiently.

“This has not been a quick fix – we have seen these improvements sustained over the last five months.

“With the measures now in place, I am confident going forward that Surrey Police will maintain this level of service when responding to the public.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend with a member of coop staff

Organised crime is fuelling “abhorrent” abuse and violence against shopworkers, Surrey’s Commissioner warns in meetings with retailers

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SHOPWORKERS are being attacked and abused amid a nation-wide boom in shoplifting fuelled by organised criminals, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner has warned.

Lisa Townsend blasted “abhorrent” violence against retail workers as Respect for Shopworkers Week, organised by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), got underway on Monday.

The Commissioner has met with retailers in Oxted, Dorking and Ewell in the past week to hear about the impact crime has on retailers.

Lisa heard some staff have been assaulted when trying to stop shoplifters, with the crime acting as a flashpoint for violence, abuse and anti-social behaviour.

Criminals are stealing to order, workers say, with laundry supplies, wine and chocolates targeted most frequently. Profits made from shoplifting across the UK are used in the commission of other serious offences, including drug trafficking, police believe.

‘Abhorrent’

Surrey has among the fewest reports of shoplifting in the country. However, Lisa said the offence is often linked to “unacceptable and disgusting” violence and verbal abuse.

One retailer told the Commissioner: “As soon as we try to challenge shoplifting, it can open the door to abuse.

“The safety of our workers is paramount, but it makes us feel powerless.”

Lisa said: “Shoplifting is often viewed as a victimless crime but it’s far from it and can have a significant impact on businesses, their staff and the surrounding community.

“Retail workers across the country provided a vital lifeline to our communities during the Covid pandemic and it’s crucial that we take care of them in return.

“So I find it hugely concerning to hear about the unacceptable and abhorrent violence and abuse suffered by shopworkers. The victims of these offences are not statistics, they are hard-working members of society who are suffering just for doing their job.

Commissioner’s anger

“I have been out speaking to businesses in Oxted, Dorking and Ewell over the last week to hear about their experiences and I am committed to working with our police teams to address the concerns that were raised.

“I know Surrey Police are committed to tackling this issue and a big part of the new Chief Constable Tim De Meyer’s plan for the Force is to concentrate on what policing does best – fighting crime and protecting people.

“This includes focusing on some of those crime types such as shoplifting which is what the public want to see.

“The links between shoplifting and serious organised criminality prove how vital it is for police across the country to get a grip on shoplifting. We need a co-ordinated approach to tackle this issue so I am pleased to hear that there are plans for a specialist police team to be set up nationally to target shoplifting as a ‘high-harm’ cross-border crime.

“I would urge all retailers to keep reporting incidents to police so resources can be allocated to where they are needed most.”

In October, the government launched the Retail Crime Action Plan, which includes a police commitment to prioritise urgently attending the scene of shoplifting when violence is committed against shop workers, where security guards have detained an offender, or when evidence is needed to secure evidence.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend with representatives from USDAW and Co-op employee Amila Heenatigala at the store in Ewell

Paul Gerrard, Co-op’s Director of Public Affairs, said: “Safety and security is a clear priority for Co-op, and we are pleased that the serious issue of retail crime, which impacts our communities so dramatically, has been acknowledged.

“We’re invested in colleague and store safety, and we welcome the ambition of the Retail Crime Action Plan, but there is a long way to go. Actions must match the words and we urgently need to see the changes take place so the desperate calls to police from frontline colleagues are responded to and the criminals start to realise there are real consequences to their actions.”

According to an USDAW survey of 3,000 members, 65 per cent of those who responded have been verbally abused at work, while 42 per cent have been threatened and five per cent have suffered a direct assault.

The union’s general secretary Paddy Lillis said six in ten incidents were triggered by shoplifting – and warned the offence is “not a victimless crime”.

To report an ongoing emergency to Surrey Police, call 999. Reports can also be made via 101 or the digital 101 channels.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Commissioner secures £1m in government funding for projects to improve safety in three Surrey towns

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

Three communities in Surrey are set to receive a huge boost to their safety after Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend secured nearly £1m in the latest round of the government’s Safer Streets funding.

Projects in Walton, Redhill and Guildford will benefit from the Home Office cash after it was announced today that the proposals submitted for the county earlier this year by the Commissioner’s office have been successful.

Lisa said a number of planned measures will make all areas safer places to live and hailed the announcement as fantastic news for residents in those communities.

The grant is part of the fifth round of Safer Streets funding which has so far seen over £120m shared across England and Wales for projects to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and make areas safer for women and girls.

£1m safety boost

Three bids totalling £992,232 were submitted by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office after working together with Surrey Police and borough and district council partners to identify areas most in need of investment and support.

The projects will now benefit from around £330,000 each and will be further boosted by an additional £720,000 in match funding from partners involved.

In Walton Town and Walton North, the money will be used to tackle anti-social behaviour in public spaces, which includes everything from drug dealing and taking to vandalism and littering.

Extra CCTV will be installed and youth outreach programmes will be launched while the funding will also pay for security measures in the Drewitts Court car park, such as speed bumps, anti-climb paint and motion-sensor lighting. Improvements will also be made to the community garden at the St John’s estate.

In Redhill, the funding will focus on the town centre with measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. It’ll pay for a Safe Space Hut as well as YMCA outreach activities for young people in the town, community engagement and an information campaign on anti-social behaviour.

Those in Guildford identified theft, criminal damage, assault and substance misuse as some of the key issues affecting their town centre. The funding will be used for street marshal patrols, youth engagement events and a multimedia stand that will beam up-to-date safety information to residents and visitors.

Previous Safer Streets funding has supported other similar projects across the county including in Woking, Stanwell, Godstone and Bletchingley, Epsom, Addlestone and Sunbury Cross.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Safer Streets is a fantastic initiative that is making a real difference to our communities in Surrey so I am delighted that three more of our towns are set to benefit from this £1m funding.

‘Fantastic initiative’

“Our residents regularly tell me they want to see anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood crime being tackled so this is really great news for those living and working in those areas.

“Whilst it is my office that submits the proposal to the Home Office, it is a real team effort together with Surrey Police and our colleagues in the borough and district councils to secure this funding which goes such a long way to improving safety for our residents.

“I will ensure my office continues to work with our partners to identify other areas that could benefit from this extra funding in the future.”

‘Delighted’

Ali Barlow, Surrey Police’s T/Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for local policing, said: “I’m delighted that these bids were successful as we’ve seen through previous funding what a difference this support can make.

“Our neighbourhood policing teams already work closely with local authorities and other services to identify areas of concern in our communities and take appropriate action and this will only assist them further.

“The initiatives that are planned for Guildford, Redhill and Walton will help residents to be safe and feel safe as well as improve our public spaces which is something everyone will benefit from.”

Key interventions

Cllr Rod Ashford, Executive Member for Communities, Leisure and Culture at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council said: “This is good news.

“The Council is committed to tackling antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls. We hope that this funding will go a long way in helping us continue the good work we are doing with the police and wider partners to improve community safety in Redhill.”

Councillor Bruce McDonald, Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council: “This is a great opportunity to address anti-social behaviour in Walton-on-Thames from crime prevention through environmental design to supporting young people and parents.

“We look forward to working together with a range of partners to deliver these key interventions.”

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie-Vesey Thompson

“It can hugely profit the criminal gangs who cause so much misery”: Deputy Commissioner warns of “extremely dangerous” consequences of rural crime

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner says the profits of rural crime are helping to fuel organised crime across the UK.

This week marks National Rural Crime Week, which aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by countryside communities. Ahead of the week of action, Ellie Vesey-Thompson joined Surrey Police’s PC Laura Rowley on a visit to three farms in the east of Surrey to learn more about the key issues affecting rural communities in the county.

Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage were among the top priorities for those living in the Surrey countryside.

Dog attacks on livestock are also a key concern. In Dorking, a farmer lost more than 30 sheep during a single incident. The same farmer also reported young people repeatedly climbing stacked hay bales on his property to light barbecues and causing criminal damage to the bales by cutting them open and strewing the contents around.

Crime warning

In a separate incident, vandals recently trespassed onto land, broke into a pheasant pen and killed a number of the birds, leaving the bodies in a pile for the owners to find the following day.

Theft of plant machinery and specialist GPS units are particularly lucrative for organised crime groups (OCGs). National reports suggest that these OCGs are exploiting current sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of the war with Ukraine to steal farm machinery to order.

During a rural crime conference in London earlier this year, delegates including the Deputy Commissioner heard there are strong links connecting rural offences – including burglaries committed on farmland – to organised crime.

Ellie, who carries the rural crime remit for the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, said: “This issue has a significant impact. Like a stone thrown in a pond, the harm caused can ripple outwards, causing far graver and more widely-reaching consequences than you’d first imagine.

“During the conference I heard from experts including Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, who leads the UK’s National Rural Crime Unit, that this type of offending is fuelled in part by organised crime groups.

“Machinery thefts not only cause financial harm and delays to farm communities, but often result in huge profits to the OCGs responsible.

“We know that organised crime does so much harm to society, and the crimes committed by gangs in rural areas can fund activities including drug and firearms trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

“Offences not linked to OCGs also have a huge impact. For example, youths lighting barbecues in a barn filled with hay might appear to be little more than an annoyance, but this reckless and extremely dangerous act could so easily result in tragedy.

‘It does so much harm’

“The deaths of livestock in dog attacks is not only hugely traumatic for the animals, but can also have a devastating impact on farmers, who are forced to deal with truly horrific scenes. Such incidents also drive up insurance premiums for them, and prices at the supermarket for those who have no connection to rural communities.

“Rural crime does not exist in a vacuum. These offences are serious and alarming, and they can cause huge distress to members of the public who have no connection whatsoever to the initial incident.

“We know rural crime is under-reported, at a direct contrast to how serious this type of crime is to this affected. I urge our countryside communities to report all incidents to Surrey Police.

“I’m hugely proud of our rural crime team, including the fantastic PC Rowley. Each member is dedicated to working with Surrey’s residents to identify offenders and bring them to justice, as well as increasing awareness of the damage this type of criminal behaviour can cause.”

Ellie attended a national conference outlining the links between rural crime and OCGs during the summer