AN OPERATION that aims to tackle offences including violence against women and girls and drug dealing has seen officers flood two Surrey towns during July.
Op Shield deploys uniformed officers and PCSOs alongside plain-clothed Behavioural Detection Officers trained to spot signs of predatory behaviour.
The initiative took place in Epsom and Guildford last month as part of Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer, a major new campaign focusing on town centres. The scheme brings together partners across Surrey to deal with crimes that blight communities, including violence against women and girls, violent offending, retail crime, and anti-social behaviour.
During the evenings, officers spoke with members of the public and handed-out anti-spiking kits, including caps to place over glasses. A police dog was also deployed in each town to search for drugs.
Plain-clothed officers joined the crowds at bars and clubs to look for anyone behaving suspiciously, before alerting uniformed colleagues.
Anyone considered a concern was stopped and spoken to by officers.
Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, joined the team in Epsom, while Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson was part of foot patrols in Guildford town centre.
Preventing violence against women and girls is a key priority for both the Commissioner, who has made it a cornerstone of her Police and Crime Plan, and the Force.
Plan’s cornerstone
Lisa said: “This brilliant operation acts as a deterrent by making our town centres hostile to those who display predatory behaviour.
“Our specially-trained Behavioural Detection Officers look out for signs of suspicious behaviour, before flagging their concerns with uniformed colleagues. The aim is to prevent criminality from being committed altogether.
“These types of operations matter to the public. We want to prevent women and girls from becoming victims wherever possible, and to ensure that everyone feels confident to report offences to Surrey Police.
“Promise made”
“I fund a huge range of organisations that support those who do become victims, such as the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre in Guildford and the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership.
“This work is at the core of the promise I made to return to back to basics policing.
“There is a long way to go. Victims of sexual offences are facing lengthy delays to get to court, with trials now being listed in 2028 and 2029.
“That’s why our ongoing partnership work with councils, the wider criminal justice system and services across the county is so vital.”