Strengthening relationships between Surrey Police and Surrey residents

Building trust and confidence between Surrey Police and the communities they serve is a key priority for me. Strong relationships are key to effective policing, and I believe that openness, transparency, and regular engagement with residents are vital. By working together and focusing on early intervention, we can reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, improve community safety, and ensure that the voices of local people are heard and acted upon.

Key progress during 2024/25: 

• Shaping Surrey’s Future: As Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, it’s vital to me that our Police and Crime Plan reflects the voices of those who live and work in our county. That’s why, following my re-election, I was determined that the development of the new Plan would be rooted in meaningful, wide-ranging consultation.
• Between August and December 2024, my office undertook a thorough and inclusive engagement process to ensure that the Plan is not only informed by lived experience but also shaped by the needs and expectations of our communities today. This process allowed us to build on the priorities set out in the previous Plan, while addressing both long-standing concerns and new challenges.
• We used a combination of stakeholder focus groups and a Surrey-wide public survey to gather views from right across the county. The focus groups brought together voices from across the policing and community safety landscape, including teachers, police officers, safeguarding leads, victim support organisations, rural communities, youth workers, business leaders, and many others. These conversations offered real insight into the complex and interconnected issues our communities face and provided invaluable ideas for long-term solutions.
• Alongside this, we invited all residents to take part in a public survey, offering an open opportunity for anyone in Surrey to share their views on local policing. I was pleased to see strong engagement with the survey, and the feedback we received helped to highlight the issues that matter most – from tackling anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime to increasing police visibility and support for victims.
• The feedback we gathered through both routes was instrumental in shaping the priorities of the new Police and Crime Plan for 2025–28. Even where individual concerns did not translate directly into the Plan, I’ve made sure that all input was shared with Surrey Police for operational consideration.
• I’m deeply grateful to everyone who took part. Your contributions have helped shape a Plan that will guide policing in Surrey for the next four years, rooted firmly in the real experiences of our residents.
  
  
• The power of conversation: This autumn and winter, I was incredibly proud to join Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and our local Borough Commanders for our Policing Your Community roadshow, visiting all 11 boroughs across Surrey and finishing with an engaging online event in January.
• These events were a brilliant opportunity to meet residents face-to-face and hear first-hand about the issues that matter most to them – from anti-social behaviour and police visibility to road safety and community confidence.
• I was genuinely delighted by the number of people who took the time to join us. The conversations were thoughtful, honest and constructive, and they reinforced why listening to our communities must remain central to everything we do. The feedback we received has not only helped shape our local policing plans, but it also reaffirmed the shared priorities that are already guiding my Police and Crime Plan.
• I’m grateful to every resident who joined us to ask questions, raise concerns, or simply learn more about how policing works in their area. Strengthening the relationship between Surrey Police and our communities is one of my top priorities, and this roadshow proved just how powerful open dialogue can be.
• With record numbers of officers now serving Surrey, I aim to ensure our police service becomes more visible, effective, and trusted. I’m proud of what we achieved through these events, and even more excited for the work ahead.
  
  
• Supporting the business community: This year, I was pleased to launch a dedicated consultation on retail crime in partnership with Surrey Police’s Chief Constable, Tim De Meyer. We know that retail crime doesn’t just affect shop owners and staff – it impacts entire communities, from local high streets to wider networks of customers and suppliers. That’s why we asked Surrey’s business community to have their say, so we could gain a deeper understanding of the true scale and impact of retail crime across the county.
• Surrey Police is committed to dealing robustly with those who offend, and this consultation is a vital step in ensuring the voices of our business community are heard, understood, and acted upon. A full report has now been published.
  
  
• Open data: As the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, I believe that residents should have easy access to key data concerning both my office and Surrey Police. That’s why we have continued to invest in and enhance the Surrey Police Data Hub – a platform we developed to give the public clear and convenient access to important information.
• We recognised early on that traditional public meetings aren’t always practical for everyone, and we wanted to create a more accessible, digital alternative. While public bodies are required to publish large amounts of data, this is often hard to find and even harder to understand. The Data Hub tackles that problem by presenting key information in a user-friendly, regularly updated format.
• Our aim remains the same: to ensure residents can easily access and understand how Surrey Police is performing. The Data Hub is now a core part of how we promote transparency and public engagement, and it’s a model that many other force areas across the country have since looked to emulate.
• You can access the Hub here: https://data.surrey-pcc.gov.uk
  

Explore further data concerning Surrey Police progress against this priority.

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