What would you like to see Surrey Police focus on in your local community over the next three years?
That is the question Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is asking the county’s residents as she launches a public consultation today which will help shape her new Police and Crime Plan.
Those who live and work in Surrey are being invited to have their say on what they think the policing priorities should be by filling in a brief survey.
It only takes a few minutes to complete and can be filled in here:
Surrey Police and Crime Plan 2025-28 public consultation
The survey will remain open until December 12 2024.
Have your say
The answers will help the Commissioner complete her Plan, which will be a blueprint for policing in Surrey for the next three years and provides the basis for how she holds the Chief Constable to account.
It will be published in early 2025 and will cover her current term of office, which runs until 2028.
The development of the Plan is already underway, with the Commissioner’s office holding a series of in-depth consultation events over the last two months.
This has included speaking to a number of key groups in Surrey such as victim and survivor groups, young people, professionals in crime reduction and safety, rural crime groups and representatives from Surrey’s business community.
The Commissioner now wants to seek the views of the wider Surrey public on what they want to see in the Plan.
Policing priorities
Lisa was re-elected for a second term of office in May this year. She was first elected in 2021 when she set her original Police and Crime Plan.
She said: “The single most important part of my role as Police and Crime Commissioner for this county is to represent you, the residents of Surrey.
“It is my job to ensure your views on policing in Surrey are heard and that is why I now ask for your help in creating my new Police and Crime Plan.
“I want to make sure the public’s priorities for policing are my priorities too. This is why I want as many people as possible to fill out the survey and let me know your views.
“Over the last four years, I have spoken with thousands of residents across our county and I know there are issues that consistently cause concern such as road safety, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, drug crime, the safety of women and girls and visible policing in our communities.
‘The public’s priorities are my priorities’
“When I was re-elected in May, I pledged to focus on a ‘back-to-basics’ approach to policing in Surrey which focuses on tackling those crimes that blight our communities and targeting persistent offenders.
“This is a commitment I share with our Chief Constable Tim De Meyer, and I believe this approach is already starting to pay dividends.
“However, the road ahead is not easy and there are challenges that Surrey Police must face in the coming years.
“There are significant financial savings that must be made, an ever-increasing demand on our policing teams and retaining our officers and staff in a tough job market.
Back to basics
“It is crucial that our resources are targeted where they are most needed, and Surrey Police finds the right balance between visible community policing and the need to combat that hidden criminality happening behind closed doors.
“I want my Police and Crime Plan to reflect a wide a range of views from people in every borough in Surrey on those issues that are important to them where they live.
“With that in mind, I ask you all to fill out my survey and let me know what you want to see in my plan. The consultation only takes just a few minutes so please do fill it in and let me know what you think.”
Lisa will be promoting the survey at the Policing Your Community roadshow, which is taking place around the county this autumn and winter. Sign up for your local event here.