Following confirmation of her proposed council tax increase yesterday (Friday 2nd February 2024), Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Lisa Townsend, has thanked residents for their engagement, support, and views in completing her countywide survey on the topic.
The survey, launched in December, asked residents what they would be willing to pay to help provide Surrey Police with the resources it needs to deliver new Chief Constable Tim De Meyer’s plan and keep our county safe.
Over 50% of respondents said they would be happy to pay an additional £12 or £13 per year (on a Band D property), with the £13 figure (or 4.2%) being the most popular answer amongst respondents.
A £13 proposal was put to Surrey’s Police and Crime Panel by the Commissioner, who set out the importance of the increase in enabling Surrey Police to continue keeping our county safe and providing the Force with the means to focus on protecting people and tackling crime.
The Commissioner outlined how the proposed increase will help the Chief Constable deliver his pledge to crack down on anti-social behaviour and tackle pockets of lawlessness with a visible policing presence, ensuring Surrey Police relentlessly pursues offenders who are most prolific across our communities.
Whilst the Commissioner’s proposal was confirmed, she expressed “disappointment” that some members of the Panel voted against the increase.
Speaking after the Panel meeting, Lisa Townsend said “I am grateful to all members of our community who took the time to complete my survey and share their thoughts on funding levels and priority areas for our police force.
“I am incredibly conscious of the current financial pressures on households, and my decision to increase the policing element of Council Tax was not an easy one. Ultimately there are difficult decisions I must make with the best interests of our county in mind.
“Listening to residents is an important part of my decision-making process and results showed that the majority of those who completed the survey were willing to pay a little bit more for policing in Surrey. At a time when bills are rising, this is a strong vote of confidence in and support for our brilliant officers and staff.
“The Chief Constable and I have spoken with hundreds of residents over the past few months at our in-person and online community events, at which the Chief Constable clearly set out his vision for the Force in providing a service our residents rightly expect.
“The plan focusses on getting tough on offenders, protecting people across the county, and fighting crime in communities across Surrey. Not only are these things that policing does best they are also the things I know residents want our police to be prioritising.
“Communities across Surrey want and expect their police to be there when they need them, from answering calls as quickly as possible to tackling crimes which impact their everyday lives and blight our communities.
“The Chief Constable is committed to substantially increasing the detection rate for crimes and the number of offenders put before the courts, aiming for an additional 2,000 charges to be made by March 2026. He has also pledged to ensure that calls for help from members of the public are answered more quickly, something which I am pleased we have already seen significant improvement in over recent months.
“I was, therefore, disappointed that some members of the panel chose to act as a politically motivated block to try and prevent the proposed increase, which would have meant the force faced greater cuts, and would have inhibited the delivery of the Chief Constable’s plan for the improvements and changes that I know residents support.
“I am grateful to the members of the panel, including those who sit as non-elected politically independent members, who understood my need to ensure the Chief Constable has the tools he needs to take the fight to criminals and protect our county.
“Surrey Police has worked tirelessly to meet and surpass government targets for additional officer numbers in our county, and as a result Surrey now has more police officers than it has ever had before.
“Today’s decision will mean that these officers receive the right support to achieve the Chief Constable’s plan for our county and make our communities even safer for residents and visitors.”
