Commissioner Lisa Townsend joined Operation Replicate at Clacket Lane Services on the M25 to stop check 26 trade vehicles in the fight against rogue traders.

 

The activity resulted in more than 80% of vehicle stops leading to prosecutions in just one day.   

 

Police teams at Clacket Lane were joined by partners from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, Motor Insurance Bureau, the Environment Agency and Tandridge District Council.  

 

Six arrests were made – three on suspicion of theft, two for drug driving and one for assaulting police. Eight vehicles were seized, five drivers were reported for summons, five vehicles prohibited from use and eight fixed penalty notices were issued.  

 

Lisa said: “We know that much of this type of offending is perpetrated by organised criminal gangs crossing county borders in search of victims.

 

"That is why operations like this are so important in disrupting this type of activity and making life harder for those criminals."

 

Operation Replicate involves police officers and partner agencies targeting criminals over a one week period in locations in Surrey and bordering counties. 

 

Commissioner Lisa Townsend is backing a football programme to encourage young people aged 12 - 18 away from anti-social behaviour and help them design a brighter future.

 

The Surrey Football Association’s ‘Stepover’ programme will work with young people across Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge and Woking.

 

The pilot programme will use football to engage participants, build confidence and develop the skills they need both on and off the pitch.  

 

The initiative brings together Surrey FA, Surrey Police, Adolescent Services, Children’s Safeguarding and the other members of the Surrey Serious Violence Reduction Partnership, in a collaborative approach to support young people reaching their potential.  

 

Lisa said: “Sport provides a vital opportunity for young people to learn about communication and leadership, helps build their confidence and encourages them have a positive impact in the community around them.

 

"I am delighted to be able to provide funding for the Step Over programme and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it progresses over the coming months". 

 

Commissioner Lisa Townsend joined a patrol in Redhill to relaunch the 'Jog On' campaign after more than 100 incidents of sex-based harassment were recorded since new legislation came into force in April of this year.

 

The 'Jog On' initiative by Surrey Police forms part of the Force’s ongoing commitment to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), improving feelings of safety in public spaces and ensuring women can exercise without fear of intimidation or abuse. 

 

Since 1 April, Surrey Police has recorded 105 incidents under Section 4B of the Public Order Act 1986, which introduced an offence of using threatening behaviour, language or graphics to cause intentional harassment, alarm or distress on account of sex.

 

'Jog On' enables the Force to map and track offending across the county, building a picture of those perpetrating this behaviour in order to target educational and enforcement activity. 

 

Lisa said: "Making lewd comments to female runners is not just harmless banter. It can leave those targeted feeling humiliated, threatened and frightened. That is not okay. I wholeheartedly support the Jog On campaign.”

 

 

 

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson has highlighted the significance of the Forcer Protocol at the launch of the Royal British Legion’s (RBL) Surrey poppy appeal.

 

The Forcer Protocol is an online form that is able to securely hold vital information in a missing person emergency. It is a scheme for veterans, current serving military personnel, reservists and supporting members of the Armed Forces family.

 

Ellie said: “Behind every missing person is a vulnerable human being, a story, and a family living in fear. The Forcer Protocol has the potential to save lives and remind all members from our Armed Forces community, that no matter how dark the moment, they are not forgotten, and they are not alone.”