Hundreds of Surrey residents have had their say on the issues that affect them most as the Policing Your Community roadshow returned during the autumn and winter.

The series kicked off in Guildford borough in late September, and concluded with an online meeting last Monday, January 13. Around 100 people attended the virtual event, where the panel took questions ranging from CCTV use in Guildford and Cobham to delays to court cases.

During the meetings, hosted by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, Surrey Police Chief Constable Tim De Meyer, and each of the Borough Commanders, a number of common concerns emerged. These included anti-social behaviour, burglary, police visibility and shoplifting.

The Commissioner will shortly launch her Police and Crime Plan, created with the input of residents, community groups, businesses and victim services across Surrey. 

The Plan, which provides a blueprint for policing priorities in the county until 2028, will reflect the concerns raised by communities.

Lisa is also currently asking residents what they’d be prepared to pay to support policing in Surrey. You can have your say here.

In the past 12 months, the Force has:

🚓 More than doubled its charge rate, with an additional 3,500 offences prosecuted

🚓 Made an additional 2,500 arrests

🚓 Increased charges for both burglary and assault with injury by 90 per cent

🚓 Achieved a four-fold increase in charges for shoplifting offences

🚓 Doubled its charges for offences involving violence against women and girls

The Commissioner said: “The Policing Your Community events allows us to hear what people are most concerned about where they live, and to answer any questions they may have.

“My upcoming Police and Crime Plan, which sets the priorities for policing in Surrey, will reflect some of the issues we have heard during the roadshow.

“Surrey Police is one of the fastest-improving forces in the country, and our officers and staff are more determined than ever to make this county hostile to any kind of criminality."