Runnymede Borough Commander Ian Nash joined Runnymede Council at the VE Day Flag Raising Ceremony this morning marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.  Inspector Nash and the Runnymede Neighbourhood Team also observed two minutes silence to mark the anniversary.

In August 2024, PC Arrow and PCSO Brumell from your Runnymede Specialist Neighbourhood Team were on routine patrol when they came across a road traffic collision on New Haw Road, outside the Blue Diamond Garden Centre in Addlestone, involving a car and an electric bike (e-bike). The rider had overtaken a row of stationary vehicles not anticipating a vehicle turning into the garden centre and collided with the back of the vehicle. The driver was badly shaken whilst the rider suffered injuries to their hand after it went through the closed window of the car. The 19-year-old rider had previously been identified by PC Arrow who had warned them after potentially being involved in the anti-social use of e-bikes the month before and had been given advice to ensure it was suitably insured and was compliant with the legislation around these bikes. After first aid had been rendered to the rider, the investigation continued where the bike was found not to be insured and the rider didn't have a driving licence. This resulted in them being reported for the offences. The rider was summonsed to court in February 2025, where they were found guilty of driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road without due care and attention, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, and with no insurance. The rider had their driving licence endorsed with 7 penalty points and was ordered to pay £390 in total. We try to educate young persons on the dangers of these bikes before they get seriously injured or prosecuted for offences

Two men have been sentenced for stealing a designer handbag from a store in Cobham earlier this year. Jack Jones, 19 (DOB: 05/06/2005) from Harrow, and Joshua Grant-Mackenzie, 22 (DOB: 18/09/2002) from Feltham, both pleaded guilty to thefts of designer handbags from Phoenix Style in Cobham on 13 January and Phoenix Style in Wimbledon on 14 January at an earlier hearing. They were sentenced at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on 29 April, where they were banned from entering any Phoenix Style store for 18 months and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months and to each pay £1,250 in compensation. The Cobham theft took place on Monday, 13 January, around 4.40pm at the store in Oakdene Parade. CCTV from the store shows Jones walking around the shop and engaging with a staff member before leaving. Around 20 minutes later, Jones returned to the shop with Grant-Mackenzie, who walked over to a table by the door where a black leather Chanel Caviar handbag with silver hardware was hanging. Grant-Mackenzie cut the cable securing the £4,800 handbag, and both men ran off without making any attempt to pay. Elmbridge Borough Commander, Inspector Lucy Marriott, said: “Shoplifting continues to be a priority for my team, and we will always pursue those responsible for these thefts relentlessly. “Retail crime has a devastating impact on local businesses and shops and leaves the victims feeling terrified and fearful in their workplace. “We are committed to addressing this crime under our retail crime strategy, by responding appropriately, carrying out a thorough investigation and working with retailers to prevent crime where possible. “We urge anyone who has been a victim of retail crime to report these thefts so that we can identify hotspots and trends, act swiftly, and prevent crime from happening and catch the offenders where it does occur. “Pursuing all appropriate avenues to identify offenders, collect evidence, recover stolen property, ensure witnesses are located and interviewed, and get these crimes to court, is a priority for my team.”

Our commitment to tackle retail crime continues with the release last week of our updated retail crime strategy. This came out alongside positive news that both arrests and solved outcomes for these offences have also increased. You can find out more at Charges in over 800 shoplifting cases as Surrey Police tackles retail crime | Surrey Police  On a local level our neighbourhood team regularly completes proactive operations to target shoplifting and linked issues like anti-social behaviour. Our team will also regularly go to local retailers/businesses to discuss the work we are doing and what further action can be taken to prevent it.