Commissioner wants to hear residents’ views on policing priorities for Surrey

The Commissioner is inviting the public to fill in a brief survey which will help her set her Police and Crime Plan that will shape policing during her current term of office.

The survey, which only takes a few minutes to complete, can be found here and will be open until Monday, October 25.

The Police and Crime Plan will set out the key priorities and areas of policing which the Commissioner believes Surrey Police need to focus on during her term of office and provides the basis for she holds the Chief Constable to account.

During the summer months, a lot of work has already gone into developing the plan with the widest consultation process ever carried out by the Commissioner’s office.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson has led consultation events with a number of key groups such as MPs, councillors, victim and survivor groups, young people, professionals in crime reduction and safety, rural crime groups and those representing Surrey’s diverse communities.

The consultation process is now moving to the stage where the Commissioner wants to seek the views of the wider Surrey public with the survey where people can have their say on what they would like to see in the plan.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “When I took office back in May, I pledged to keep residents’ views at the heart of my plans for the future which is why I want as many people as possible to fill in our survey and let me know their views.

"I know from speaking to residents across Surrey that there are issues that consistently cause concern such as speeding, anti-social behaviour and the safety of women and girls in our communities.

“I want to ensure that my Police and Crime Plan is the right one for Surrey and reflects a wide a range of views as possible on those issues that are important to people in our communities.

“I believe it is vital we strive to provide that visible police presence the public want in their communities, tackle those crimes and issues that are important to people where they live and support victims and the most vulnerable in our society.

“That is the challenge and I want to develop a plan that can help deliver on those priorities on behalf of the Surrey public.

“A lot of work has already gone into the consultation process and has given us some clear foundations on which to build the plan.

"But I believe it is crucial we listen to our residents about what they want and expect from their police service and what they believe should be in the plan.

“That is why I would ask as many people as possible to take a few minutes to fill in our survey, give us their views and help us shape the future of policing in this county.”