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"It's what residents want to see": Surrey's Safer Streets Summer begins

A summer of targeted activity tackling town centre crime across Surrey has begun.

The Home Office-backed Safer Streets Summer Initiative will see targeted operations and partnership working across the county.

Work will take place in busy town centres, including Staines and Addlestone in the north, Farnham and Camberley in the west, Dorking further to the south, and Caterham in the east.

Planned activity includes:

- Plain-clothed officers spotting signs of suspicious behaviour in busy nightspots
- Joint operations to target crime enabled by motorbikes and mopeds
- Opportunities for young people during the school holidays
- Targeted initiatives to clampdown on dangerous driving
- Specific patrols to tackle retail crime

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: "This type of visibility is what residents have told me they want to see.

"The aim isn’t simply police enforcement – it's collaboration, and we aim not only to respond to crime, but to prevent it altogether."

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Catapults "should be treated the same way as knives by police"

Surrey's Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner has called for the Government to treat catapults similarly to knives.

Ellie Vesey-Thompson has long called for tighter legislation on the possession and use of catapults, which are linked to attacks on birds and property, as well as anti-social behaviour.

In a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Ellie shared the success of a petition by Shepperton Swan Sanctuary volunteer Danni Rogers.

Danni's petition on catapults and ammunition has received more than 10,000 signatures.

The sanctuary has helped 30 wounded birds since January, and report that another 30 were killed by missile attacks.

Ellie said: "It is time to start treating catapults as we would knives.

"Anyone caught with one must have a legitimate purpose for doing so, and it should be their responsibility to prove that purpose if they’re stopped by the police.

"In the wrong hands, catapults can be deadly, and more legislation is urgently needed."

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Drug dealers jailed after Redhill police seize 10kg of cocaine

Last month, Commissioner Lisa Townsend shared more about the success of Safer Redhill.

Now, four people who planned to flood the town with cocaine are starting long jail sentences.

Officers seized 10kg of cocaine worth more than £800,000 last year as part a major crackdown on criminality in the town.

Last month, Christopher Brewer, 35, his older brother Craig, 38, Maria Rivas Santos, 32, and Michael White, 55, all received long prison sentences.

Lisa said: "Drugs cause such harm in communities across the country.

"I'm delighted that these criminals are facing the full force of the law for their actions."

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August 27 - Passing out parade for new Surrey Police officers

Police flood two towns as part of special op

An operation designed to prevent violence against women and girls has taken place in two Surrey towns.

Operation Shield deploys uniformed officers and PCSOs alongside colleagues in plain-clothes.

The aim of the initiative is to prevent criminality, particularly violence against women and girls, in the county's busiests night-spots.

As part of the scheme, officers reassure residents with a visible presence, give advice, and hand out caps to put over drinks in a bid to prevent spiking.

Specially-trained Behavioural Detection Officers also join crowds to look out for signs of behaviour that could lead to later criminality.

Anyone who causes alarm is flagged by teams and spoken to by officers in uniform.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend joined Operation Shield in Epsom town centre in early July, while Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson attended the Guildford initiative.

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Service for first officer killed in line of duty

A service honouring the first Surrey Constabulary officer to die in the line of duty has taken place in Haslemere.

Inspector William Donaldson was fatally injured in an attack at Market House - now Haslemere Town Hall - on the night of July 29 1855.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson joined his great-great-grandchildren, Jane Matthews and Henry Pelham, at the event.

Ellie said: "Insp Donaldson's bravery is a stark reminder of the threats our officers still face to this day.

“We remember William, alongside the 26 other Surrey officers who have died in the line of duty since.

“I am grateful to the wonderful officers serving our county today, wearing their uniform with pride while keeping Surrey safe.”

Mr Pelham, 83, said: “There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t mention his name.”

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