Latest news with #LisaTownsend
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
More police patrols in 12 Surrey towns in Safer Streets campaign
Twelve towns in Surrey have joined a government scheme to protect town centres from anti-social behaviour and Home Office Safer Streets summer campaign will see increased police patrols and enforcement, with offences such as shoplifting police and crime commissioner Lisa Townsend is also backing the says Surrey Police have identified "key hotspots that are now going to benefit from more police action". The towns taking part are:GuildfordDorkingCaterhamAddlestoneEpsomWalton-on-ThamesReigateBansteadFarnhamWokingCamberleyStaines "I don't feel safe," one woman from Addlestone told BBC Radio Surrey, adding: "We need more police on the streets.""Certain areas feel very unsafe, especially at night time, you can definitely see a lot of anti-social behaviour," another Addlestone resident said. Ms Townsend said: "You'll see an increased police presence, including specific patrols tackling retail crime and anti-social behaviour."Plain clothes officers will be in our busiest night time hot spots and there'll be joint operations to stop crime that's enabled by mopeds and motorbikes."The Safer Streets campaign will run until September, with the Home Office promising 13,000 more police officers, PCSOs and special constables across the UK.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Campaign sees better behaviour in town, police say
More police officers and better visibility led to less weekend anti-social behaviour in Guildford, Surrey Police says. An 18-month campaign to tackle nuisance behaviour saw violent crime and offences linked to youth-related crime drop by 75% in the town in that time, the force said. The campaign, backed by a £273,000 Home Office grant, included TV adverts during Six Nations rugby matches and work with fast food outlets and shops. Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said she was "very proud" of the campaign's impact while Guildford borough commander Inspector Blaine Rafferty said it was "important that we communicate the level of acceptable behaviour that is expected". A spokesperson for Surrey Police said the scheme, part of the Home Office's Safer Streets initiative, involved targeting crime hotspots in Guildford with an increased police presence on weekends. Dispersal orders in the town centre also allowed the force to arrest people who were repeatedly causing trouble within a 48 hour period. PCC Townsend said that, while funding for the scheme had not continued into the new financial year which began in April, Surrey Police officers would continue to be present in the town at weekends. Inspector Rafferty added: "Tackling issues like ASB and retail crime remain ongoing priorities for us, and having officers patrolling the streets means we're here and ready to address any issues as they arise. "I'm delighted that our partnership work has made an impact in helping to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all, and the Home Office funding has been vital in allowing us to make improvements." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Teenagers arrested on suspicion of sexual assault Arrests after retail crime crackdown Surrey Police
BBC News
11-05-2025
- BBC News
Surrey Police campaign leads to drop in Guildford crime
More police officers and better visibility led to less weekend anti-social behaviour in Guildford, Surrey Police 18-month campaign to tackle nuisance behaviour saw violent crime and offences linked to youth-related crime drop by 75% in the town in that time, the force campaign, backed by a £273,000 Home Office grant, included TV adverts during Six Nations rugby matches and work with fast food outlets and Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said she was "very proud" of the campaign's impact while Guildford borough commander Inspector Blaine Rafferty said it was "important that we communicate the level of acceptable behaviour that is expected". A spokesperson for Surrey Police said the scheme, part of the Home Office's Safer Streets initiative, involved targeting crime hotspots in Guildford with an increased police presence on orders in the town centre also allowed the force to arrest people who were repeatedly causing trouble within a 48 hour Townsend said that, while funding for the scheme had not continued into the new financial year which began in April, Surrey Police officers would continue to be present in the town at Rafferty added: "Tackling issues like ASB and retail crime remain ongoing priorities for us, and having officers patrolling the streets means we're here and ready to address any issues as they arise."I'm delighted that our partnership work has made an impact in helping to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all, and the Home Office funding has been vital in allowing us to make improvements."
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Arrests after retail crime crackdown
Eight people have been arrested during a week-long campaign to target shoplifting in Surrey. Officers and PCSOs visited retail staff in Guildford and Waverley, while plain-clothed behavioural detection officers, trained to spot suspicious behaviour, blended in with shoppers. Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner said retail crime caused victims "financial, emotional, and sometimes physical harm" and also impacted the wider community. Lisa Townsend, who joined patrols in Farncombe, warned shoplifters: "The person browsing the aisle beside them could be a Surrey Police officer." The commissioner has vowed a return to "back-to-basics policing" in her Police and Crime Plan, a blueprint for the force's priorities over the next three years. She said that Surrey Police's progress had been "really impressive" over the course of the year but that she had heard "loud and clear" that more must be done to tackle retail crime. About 200 members of the business community took part in a survey launched by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Surrey Police in March. The OPCC said a report on retail crime and the force's response will be published in the coming months. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Shoplifter who stole £60k in goods jailed Anti-social cart riding stopped by dispersal order Surrey PCC launches 'back to basics' crime plan Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Surrey Police
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Arrests after retail crime crackdown
Eight people have been arrested during a week-long campaign to target shoplifting in Surrey. Officers and PCSOs visited retail staff in Guildford and Waverley, while plain-clothed behavioural detection officers, trained to spot suspicious behaviour, blended in with shoppers. Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner said retail crime caused victims "financial, emotional, and sometimes physical harm" and also impacted the wider community. Lisa Townsend, who joined patrols in Farncombe, warned shoplifters: "The person browsing the aisle beside them could be a Surrey Police officer." The commissioner has vowed a return to "back-to-basics policing" in her Police and Crime Plan, a blueprint for the force's priorities over the next three years. She said that Surrey Police's progress had been "really impressive" over the course of the year but that she had heard "loud and clear" that more must be done to tackle retail crime. About 200 members of the business community took part in a survey launched by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Surrey Police in March. The OPCC said a report on retail crime and the force's response will be published in the coming months. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Shoplifter who stole £60k in goods jailed Anti-social cart riding stopped by dispersal order Surrey PCC launches 'back to basics' crime plan Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Surrey Police
