Category: Working with communities to feel safe

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson with staff and members of the Surrey Police Problem Solving Team

Community project to improve safety for women and girls in Woking scoops national award

Posted on | by James Smith | Leave a Comment on Community project to improve safety for women and girls in Woking scoops national award

A community project backed by Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner to improve safety for women and girls in Woking has won a prestigious national award.

The initiative, which was centred around a stretch of the Basingstoke Canal in the town, claimed the overall Tilley Award at a ceremony on Tuesday night as part of the National Problem-Solving Conference.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s office secured £175,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund to improve security measures along the 13-mile canal path following a number of reports of indecent exposure in the area since 2019.

The grant was spent on a series of significant changes in the area. Overgrown trees and bushes were cleared, while new CCTV cameras covering the towpath were installed.

Graffiti was removed after some respondents to Surrey Police’s Call It Out Survey 2021 said they felt unsafe because certain spots looked run-down.

Officers from Woking’s Neighbourhood Policing Team and volunteers from the local Canal Watch group, which was set up thanks to funding from the Commissioner’s office, were also given electric bikes to patrol the path more effectively.

In addition, the Force teamed up with Woking Football Club to promote Do The Right Thing, a campaign which challenges bystanders to call out misogynistic and harmful behaviour against women and girls.

The project was one of five across the country to secure a Tilley Award in September, claiming victory in the ‘Business Support and Volunteers’ category.

The other category winners included a second Surrey scheme funded by the Commissioner’s office to tackle catalytic converter thefts in the county. Operation Blink, which was supported by a £13,500 grant from the office’s Community Safety Fund, resulted in 13 arrests being made and reports of catalytic converter thefts dropping by 71 per cent across Surrey.

The winners of all five categories presented their projects to a panel of judges this week and the Woking project was chosen as the overall winner. It will now be put forward for an international award.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I’m absolutely delighted that all the hard work put in by both our amazing local policing team and everyone involved in this project has been recognised with this fantastic award.

“It makes me incredibly proud to see the funding my office was able to secure make a real difference to the local community and ensure it is a much safer place, particularly for women and girls.

“I first visited the area and met the local team during my first week as Commissioner, and I know the huge effort that has gone in to tackling these issues along the canal so I’m thrilled to see that paying dividends.

“One of the key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan is to work with Surrey communities so they feel safe. I am absolutely dedicated not only to hearing residents’ concerns, but acting on them.”

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who attended the ceremony on Tuesday night, said: “It was fantastic to see the team take home the award for such a vital project.

“Schemes like this can make a huge difference to how safe people in our communities feel here in Surrey. It’s a huge achievement for the Force, and a reflection of the hard work and dedication of all of those involved.”

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing Alison Barlow said: “Winning this year’s overall Tilley Award for our project to make the Basingstoke Canal in Woking a safer place for all who use it – especially for women and girls – is a huge achievement.

“This is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, and shows the true power of local policing teams working in partnership with the community. We are also grateful for the support of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in this winning project.

“We are proud to be a problem solving force with a determination to continue to build on what we have already achieved to make sure our communities are safe and feel safer. We are firm in the commitments we made to the Surrey public to spot problems early, act promptly, and avoid quick fixes that don’t last.”

To learn more about the Safer Streets project in Woking, read Safer Streets funding to improve safety for women and girls in Woking.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend signing up to anti-social behaviour principles

Commissioner signs up to principles to mark ASB Awareness Week

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has marked Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week by signing a commitment to continue working closely with partners to tackle issues in Surrey’s communities.

The Commissioner joined senior colleagues from Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue, Surrey Crimestoppers and Surrey County Council in agreeing to the National Anti-Social Behaviour Principles at an event this week.

The principles set out how partners commit to working together to tackle the causes of ASB, encourage victims to come forward and be taken seriously and to take appropriate action to solve problems in our local communities.

The Commissioner has also been out and about talking to councillors and residents in Woodhatch and Caterham to discuss ASB issues in those areas.

The PCC’s office has a key role to play in the Community Trigger process in the county which is powerful tool to help with persistent ASB problems.

It also funds a number of projects including a mediation service which includes a victim coaching service and a number of activities for young people in the county to divert them from criminality.

The Joint Enforcement Teams, or JETs, that were set up in a various parts of the county thanks to PCC funding also have an important role to play in tackling ASB across Surrey.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “”There is already a really strong partnership approach in the county so I was delighted to sign up to the Principles this week to cement that commitment to working together to tackle ASB.

“This type of criminality is often regarding by some as low level but we know that in truth it can destroy someone’s quality of life and escalate into something far more serious.

“I know from speaking to residents across the county how highly they value the role our local policing teams play in tackling ASB issues in our communities.

“So, I was really pleased to see Surrey Police maintain its ‘outstanding’ rating in preventing anti-social behaviour following our recent inspection by HMICFRS – an area that features prominently in my Police and Crime Plan for the county.

“This grading was primarily down to the problem-solving approach the Force has worked hard to adopt in recent years in tackling the causes of ASB. This is continuing to pay dividends and is really good news for residents.

“So this week, I am supporting ASB Awareness Week and making sure this remains one of my key priorities during my term of office as Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

PCC Lisa Townsend issues statement following death of Sir David Amess MP

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has issued the following statement in response to the death of Sir David Amess MP on Friday:

“Like everyone I was appalled and horrified by the senseless murder of Sir David Amess MP and I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues and all those affected by the awful events of Friday afternoon.

“Our MPs and elected representatives have a crucial role to play in listening to and serving their constituents in our local communities and should be able to carry out that duty without fear of intimidation or violence. Politics by its very nature can illicit strong emotions but there can be absolutely no justification for the sickening assault that took place in Essex.

“I am sure the terrible events of Friday afternoon will have been felt across all of our communities and understandably concerns have been raised about the security of MPs across the country.

“Surrey Police have been in contact with all of the county’s MPs and have been co-ordinating with our partners both nationally and locally to ensure appropriate security advice is given to our elected representatives.

“Communities defeat terror and whatever our political beliefs, we must all stand together in the face of such an attack on our democracy.”

Every woman and girl has the right to feel safe

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro condemned the violence that led to the tragic death of Sarah Everard in London, saying it is important to continue to listen to the voices of women who feel unsafe.

He expressed his concern for all women who have experienced violence or unwanted attention in the past, saying meaningful action was needed to address all forms of male violence against women.

Welcoming news that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will work with police forces to identify how to better protect women and girls, he said he was supporting Surrey Police to tackle all forms of this violence that includes stalking and domestic abuse.

A call to review the response to violence against women and girls will also be held between Police Chiefs across the country today.

The PCC said: “Sarah’s death has resonated with everyone in our community, including women and girls that have been a victim of crime and others who have expressed their feelings of anger and fear. I’ve spoken with the Chief Constable and can say that Surrey Police is committed to ensure that every woman and girl can feel safe in our communities. This includes listening closely to the concerns of residents.

“I want to reassure every woman or girl who has experienced unwanted attention or violence, or are fearful for their safety, that Surrey Police is there for you. Please report it and it will be taken with the utmost seriousness.”

A statement from Surrey Police said that women should not have to live in fear or change their behaviour to keep themselves safe, but that gatherings remained unlawful.

The PCC is continuing to work with partners including Surrey Police to prevent violence against women and girls that includes all forms of sexual violence, abuse, harassment or stalking. Support from the PCC’s Office includes for training sexual violence specialists and for victim support organisations to continue services during the pandemic.

Funding from the PCC has also paid for more Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Advisors in Surrey. He said the services provided by these specialists were highly valued to support women who may be living in fear of violence in Surrey.

The Office of the PCC has placed more funding towards these areas in the last 12 months than ever before, including supporting a new service to help those affected by stalking in Surrey.

“A step in the right direction for Surrey residents” – PCC’s verdict on potential location for the county’s first transit site

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro has said news that a potential transit site has been identified to direct travellers to in Surrey is a ‘step in the right direction’ for the county’s residents.

An area of Surrey County Council managed land in Tandridge has been earmarked as the first site in the county that could provide a temporary stopping place which could be used by the travelling community.

The PCC has long been pressing for such a site with proper facilities which have proved successful in other areas of the country. Following continued collaboration involving all borough and district councils and the county council, a location has now been identified although no planning application has been submitted. The PCC has committed £100,000 from his office to help set the transit site up.

The Commissioner said he is also eagerly awaiting the results of a government consultation after reports that the Home Office are planning to change the law to make setting up unauthorised encampments a criminal offence.

The PCC responded to the consultation last year saying he supported the criminalising the act of trespass in relation to encampments which would give police tougher and more effective powers to deal with them when they appear.

PCC David Munro said: “During my term of office I have long been saying that there is an urgent need for transit sites for travellers in Surrey so I am pleased there is hopefully some good news on the horizon with a potential location identified in the Tandridge area.

“A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes involving all local agencies to address the need for transit sites. There is obviously still a long way to go and any site will have to go through the relevant planning processes but it is a step in the right direction for Surrey residents.

“We are approaching the time of year when the county begins to see an increase in unauthorised encampments and we have already seen a few in Surrey over recent weeks.

“The majority of travellers are law-abiding but I’m afraid there are a minority that cause disruption and concern to local communities and increase the strain on police and local authority resources.

“I have visited a number of communities where unauthorised encampments have been set up over the last four years and I have great sympathy with the plight of the residents whom I’ve met whose lives have been adversely affected.”

The legislation around unauthorised encampments is complex and there are requirements that must be met in order for local authorities and police to take action to move them on.

The act of trespass in relation to encampments currently remains a civil matter. When an unauthorised encampment is set up in Surrey, the occupiers are often served with orders by the police or local authority and then move on to another location nearby where the process begins again.

The PCC added: “There have been reports that the government will be seeking a change in law to make trespass in relation to unauthorised encampments a criminal offence. I would fully support this and submitted in my response to the government consultation that the legislation should be as simple and comprehensive as possible.

“I believe this change in law, coupled with the introduction of transit sites, is urgently needed to break the cycle of repeated unauthorised traveller encampments that continue to affect our local communities.”