Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Lisa Townsend, recently joined Sgt Matthew Rogers and a local PC at a meeting of the Lower Sunbury Residents’ Association and Business Community.
The meeting took place at the Riverside Arts Centre and provided the opportunity for local residents and representatives to put questions to the Commissioner and local policing team. Topics raised throughout the evening ranged from recruitment and officer training, to fraud, anti-social behaviour and unlicensed vehicles.
One of the top issues raised on the night was anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the news that the Government is stepping up its efforts to tackle ASB was welcomed. When dealing with ASB issues the police often work with key partners such as schools and local authorities to comprehensively tackle the root causes, particularly where the threshold of criminality is not reached.
The importance of feeling safe was also raised, and the issue of street lighting in some areas was of concern. It was explained that this is a matter for Surrey County Council who have the final say over street light timings.
The Commissioner and officers stressed the importance of residents reporting crimes. The police can only act where there are reports and officers are allocated according to local need and crime statistics. Logging incidents can help identify a pattern of behaviour which can help the police target hotspots or identify individuals.
Speaking after the meeting, Lisa said “I am grateful to the residents of Sunbury who took the time to attend the meeting and share their concerns with me, which really helps me understand where improvements need to be made.
“People feeling safe, as well as being safe, is also important to me and I understand concerns around poor lighting. This is an issue I have raised with the County Council multiple times since I was elected, including at the Police and Crime Panel.
“ASB was a big theme of the night, and tackling this is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan. Through my commissioning budget, I have provided significant funding towards various projects that look to tackle this behaviour.
I have also been involved in conversations with the Government about how better we can tackle this nationally. I am pleased that they are taking this problem seriously and looking to improve the response to ASB across the country.
“Despite often being described as a ‘low level’ crime, I know this is an issue that has a huge impact on residents’ lives, as it happens on your doorsteps, often on a frequent basis.
“I welcome and residents with questions or who would like to raise any concerns to get in touch."
If you are interested in attending a future community meeting with Lisa, check the events page here to see upcoming dates and locations.
