Local News

We have been working closely with Runnymede Borough Councils Environmental Health Department into illegal waste dumping. In mid-June 2026, the department came to us advising of ongoing fly tipping in the area by an HGV which was dumping treated waste which should have been going to a landfill. Once notified of this the Runnymede Safer Neighbourhood Team officers, PC Arrow and PC Campbell, located the truck just days after. The HGV was on false plates and was handed over to the council to seize and the driver was arrested and remains on bail. The vehicle went unclaimed for 15 days after and is now the property of Runnymede Borough Council. 

The Runnymede Safer Neighbourhood Team popped along to Runnymede Live at Victory Park in Addlestone on Saturday 1 August. Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a chat. It was great to meet so many friendly faces, answer your questions and enjoy the sunshine together!
 

One of our night turn response officers assisted with taking an injured cat to an emergency vet this week due to being flagged down by a member of public. We've seen on some of the Chertsey social media groups some kind words towards the officers, so thank you for that and they will be relayed.
 

It started as a routine stop on Hampton Court Way, the kind our officers carry out every day but within minutes, it became clear this wasn’t going to be a quick “on your way.” One check led to another and suddenly the list was growing: a licence that wasn’t valid; insurance that didn’t match the details; and a vehicle fault. In the end, the driver collected 6 points and £1,860 in fines. Not quite the journey they had planned.

"This is one of the worst examples of coercive and controlling behaviour this court has ever seen” These were the words of Her Honour Judge Harden-Frost as she sentenced a man who subjected a woman to years of sustained psychological abuse. Janek Pasnicki, 60 (DOB: 30/12/1965), a Polish national living in Tadworth, inflicted a campaign of coercive and controlling behaviour over more than five years, restricting and monitoring multiple aspects of the survivor’s life. He isolated her from friends and family, controlled what she wore and how she used social media, monitored her movements, and recorded her conversations. He also installed a video camera inside her home to surveil her. In a statement read to the court, the survivor described how she had become “unreachable” to those around her. Pasnicki manipulated her relationships, convincing her that others could not be trusted and that she had “poor judgement about people.” His behaviour was calculated and persistent. He placed paper against doors to check whether she had left the address and exerted control over her finances, forcing her to give up work and become financially dependent on him. This left her struggling and reliant on food banks. Pasnicki’s need for control extended to every interaction. He subjected the survivor to threats, insults and emotional manipulation if she spoke to other men. He would threaten to harm himself, force her to sign “contracts” following arguments and would deliberately humiliate her. He then dismissed his actions as a result of her mental health, further distorting her sense of reality. He referred to the survivor as a “dolly”, someone who must act as he wished. After years of abuse, the survivor reported the offences to police. Pasnicki was arrested in 2023 and gave two no comment interviews. At Guildford Crown Court on Monday, 3 August, following a 10-day trial in May 2026, Pasnicki was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, of which at least half will be served in custody. A restraining order was also imposed for 10 years. In her personal statement, the survivor said: “I was constantly watched and never trusted, no matter what I said or how much I explained myself. It has taken a long time to adjust to no longer being scrutinised. “Today, as a direct result of the control and surveillance I experienced, I still find myself over-explaining simple situations and giving far more detail than would normally be expected. “Even though there were times I wanted to run, I was so consumed by the fear of how he might react if I tried to leave that it was enough to keep me there. For a long time, even after I reached the conclusion that I needed to leave, I felt I had nowhere to run to. “Everything I have described in this statement has stayed with me to this day. I am still rebuilding the confidence, independence and sense of normality that was eroded during those five years.” Detective Constable Natalie Stone, who led the investigation, said: “Coercive and controlling behaviour is designed to strip a person of their independence, confidence and sense of safety. The strength and bravery shown by the survivor in breaking that cycle and supporting this investigation was nothing short of remarkable. “This case demonstrates the devastating and long-lasting impact this type of abuse can have. It also shows that offenders will be held accountable. “We urge anyone experiencing controlling or coercive behaviour to come forward. You will be listened to, you will be supported, and we will investigate.”

Disrupting Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a priority for us - we carry out a variety of proactive engagement activity, including attending park runs across the county, where officers offer advice and support. Sometimes you’ll be able to spot us, and other times we take part in the runs to help prevent harassment and unwanted attention towards female runners. VAWG includes a range of complex crimes, such as harassment, stalking and coercive control, which have a devastating and often life-changing impact on victims, their families and friends. Since 1 April 2026, any behaviour in public which intentionally causes alarm or distress, directed at someone because of their sex, is now illegal under the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act. Perpetrators found guilty of public sexual harassment can be convicted and receive a maximum prison sentence of two years, a fine, or both.