$show_clientname, read our latest news & updates - Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey

Commissioner joins local partners in operation to crackdown on rogue trading

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend joined the fight against rogue traders in Surrey, accompanying a special operation to target criminals entering the county.

Stop checks were carried out on 34 trade vehicles during the day of action, just off the M25, in Godstone.

Checks for valid driving licences, operators' licences and vehicle insurance took place, as well as a watch for stolen goods and metals.

Two vehicles were seized, six traffic offence reports made and eight fixed penalty notices were issued with fines totalling over £1,000.

One vehicle was reported for having no tax while six prohibition notices were also issued.

Half of those vehicles checked were subject to enforcement or words of advice concerning being overweight, insecure loads and mobile phone usage.

Police officers collaborated with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, the Environment Agency and Tandridge District Council.

Lisa said: "Much of this offending is perpetrated by organised criminal gangs who we know are crossing county borders in search of victims.

"So, it was fantastic to join the operation at Godstone and see first hand the sort of action that is being taken to disrupt the organised criminality that lies behind it."

Read more here >

Policing Your Community events are on now across Surrey - sign up to have your say

A summer calendar of 'Policing your Community' events with Lisa Townsend, Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and Guildford's Borough Commander launched in Ash on 19 May.

Events will be held in Surrey's 11 boroughs and districts until the end of July as well as an online meeting for those unable to attend their nearest venue.

Two meetings have already taken place in Ash and Leatherhead. Both events heard from speakers about the plans and priorities for their local area as well as answering questions from the audience.

Every event will run from 18:00 to 19:30 and will be attended by Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, Surrey's Chief Constable, Tim De Meyer or Deputy Chief Constable Mark McEwan and the Borough Commander.

Local residents are invited to their local public meeting now. Future events will be held at:

Ewell - Wednesday 3rd June
Sunbury-on Thames - Tuesday 9th June
Pyrford - Tuesday 16th June
Chertsey - Tuesday 23rd June
Oxted - Tuesday 30th June
Redhill - Tuesday 7th July
Lightwater - Thursday 9th July
Weybridge - Tuesday 14th July
Godalming - Wednesday 29th July

Lisa said: "I'm delighted to meet with residents from across the county and encourage all readers of the newsletter to attend their borough event.

"For those unable to attend in person, please do sign up for the online event on Tuesday 21st July."

Links to register at your local event are in the newsletter above.

Find out more here >

What lies beneath? Commissioner looks into the danger of unexploded ordnances

Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, has visited the police station front counter in Epsom where a Surrey resident recently handed in an unexploded mortar shell.

The incident prompted a mass evacuation and police safety cordon within a 100-metre radius.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) was alerted and bomb disposal experts came to safely take the mortar shell to Epsom Downs for a controlled explosion.

The Commissioner’s visit was prompted by a the celebration of 'Surrey Day' and an opportunity to further explore Surrey Police’s history as she continues to mark the Force’s 175th anniversary throughout this year.

Lisa said: “Since the end of the Second World War, Surrey Police has been called to assess hundreds of unexploded ordnances.

“In Surrey alone, there were more than 3,000 bombing incidents during World War II.

"Not all ammunition would have exploded, and so there are still ordnances that are undiscovered or remain obscured underground throughout the county.

“If you come across a potential suspicious looking ordnance, the advice is to not touch it and call 999 immediately.”

Read more here >

Sign up now for Policing Your Community 2026

The Policing Your Community events are underway across Surrey, providing you an opportunity to have your say on police matters in your area.

Please read our story further down for more details and click on the relevant link below to attend in your area:

June 3 - Policing Your Community, Epsom and Ewell

June 9 - Policing Your Community, Spelthorne

June 16 - Policing Your Community, Woking

June 23 - Policing Your Community, Runnymede

June 30 - Policing Your Community, Tandridge

July 7 - Policing Your Community, Reigate and Banstead

July 9 - Policing Your Community, Surrey Heath

July 14 - Policing Your Community, Elmbridge

July 21 - Policing Your Community, online

July 29 - Policing Your Community, Waverley

Commissioner visits 'trailblazing' domestic abuse support hub with Surrey MPs

Lisa Townsend was joined by Surrey MPs, Rebecca Paul, Will Forster and Ben Spencer to learn more about the groundbreaking work of Steps to Change.

The multi-agency hub brings together services to support domestic abuse and stalking situations by tailoring support for the whole family: victims and perpetrators.

The service which has been solely funded through the Commissioner's Office has made incredible strides over the last three years.

The hub has enabled the introduction of a new programme for women identified as victims of domestic abuse, but have used violence in retaliation and have been to address offending behaviour.

Lisa says: "To date, at least 26 women, who have previously been misunderstood in their situation have now been recognised as survivors, validated, and supported appropriately.

"This is just one aspect of the important work that the service provides. It's whole family approach with a shared commitment to victim and perpetrator accountability and change is trailblazing.

Tennis ball donation to dog school gratefully received

Two hundred used tennis balls were donated to the Surrey and Sussex police dog school via ‘Music to my Ears’ - one of the services funded by Commissioner, Lisa Townsend PCC.

Dog handler, Lucy Lucking, and explosives detection dog, Kika (pictured), accepted the tennis balls on behalf of the dog school.

Five-year-old Kika has been with Surrey Police since she was a pup.

Lisa Townsend, said: “On any given day, Surrey and Sussex police have around 100 search and general patrol dogs on the streets.

They provide a vitally important element to policing and we’re rightfully proud of the work that police handlers and their dogs do within the Force.

Thank you to Music to my Ears for facilitating this kind donation.”

Force restructures to two divisions

Surrey Police has reviewed its operating model from three to two geographical divisions: East and West Surrey.

Their presence across the county will not change and communities should not notice any difference.

Commissioner, Lisa Townsend says: "This move is about modernising the Force alongside local government reorganisation.

"It's not about cutting costs or reducing the number of police officers in the county – on the contrary, Surrey Police has got more police officers in its ranks than ever before".