Clear, Hold, Build

Neighbourhood crime cannot be solved by policing alone – and across Surrey, partnership working is crucial to the Force’s success.

Back in June 2024, the Safer Redhill scheme was announced between Surrey Police, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and the YMCA.

The scheme, which was part-funded through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, has resulted in a significant drop in offences.

In 2025, reports of shoplifting in the town had decreased by 16 per cent.

Safer Redhill adopts the College of Policing’s Clear, Hold, Build framework.

The three-stage approach involves police relentlessly pursuing criminals to ‘clear’ an area, maintaining a hold over the location to prevent further offending, and then working in tandem with partners to build resilience so it is less likely to be targeted in the future.

Action in Surrey’s towns

Clear, Hold, Build will now be rolled out in more Surrey towns, including Epsom and Ashford, and Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has made available funding for the programme.

In Redhill, retail crime isn’t the only type of offending to see a decrease. Reported sexual assault has decreased by 19 per cent, grievous bodily harm by 43 per cent and robbery by 56 per cent.

More than 150 arrests have been made, including for retail crime, and 30 years of prison time handed down to offenders.

Police have also engaged with children and young people to build relationships, encourage reporting of offences, and prevent criminality.

Trust grows

Stats don’t matter to communities in Surrey. It’s about how safe residents feel on their streets and in their towns. In Redhill, trust in policing has increased by 8.4 per cent, and we are determined to replicate that success in other areas.

Following the publication of this report, the scheme was announced in Epsom and Ewell.

Over two ‘clear’ phases spanning six months, 150 arrests were made, while 10 county lines drug gangs were disrupted and £20,000 in cash was seized.

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