Category Archives: Law and order

47 more police officers in Surrey

Yesterday, new Home Office statistics showed Surrey Police has recruited 47 additional police officers since the government began its major drive one year ago. This brings the total number of police officers in Surrey Police to 2,041, and contributes to the government’s target of recruiting 20,000 more officers by April 2023.

It is very welcome news for residents in Elmbridge and across Surrey. New crime figures this week showed a 3% fall in crime in Surrey and a 2.2% fall in Elmbridge, so these extra officers will help to ensure that this trend continues.

Beyond increasing numbers, the government is backing the police in other ways, for example by doubling the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker to two years. We’re also giving them the tools they need to do the job – allowing more officers to authorise enhanced stop and search powers, and introducing new powers to target known knife criminals. I’m looking forward to being out and about with the local police in Elmbridge soon, to see first-hand how all of these changes are making a difference in our community.

Surrey Police gets £15m funding boost

On Monday evening the House of Commons voted for the largest funding boost for the police in a decade. Across England and Wales, the funding available to police forces will increase by more than £1.1 billion next year (2020/21).

The total amount available for Surrey Police’s day to day spending will increase by £15m for 2020/21, to £250.1m. This is an increase of 6.4%.

£112.3m (44.9%) of this is funded by central government, and £137.8m (55.1%) is coming from the police precept element of Council Tax set by Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). This will be funded by an increase in the precept element of an average Band D Council Tax bill of £10, to £270.57.

This investment will mean more police officers on the street to tackle local burglaries, antisocial behaviour and worrying local incidents of knife crime. Surrey Police’s recruitment target for 2020/21 is 78 additional officers.

As your local MP, my priority is making sure that Elmbridge gets its fair share – so I’ll be meeting with Surrey’s PCC, Chief Constable and the Elmbridge Borough Commander soon to discuss exactly what these numbers mean for the neighbourhoods in our borough.

Meeting with Inspector Bert Dean, temporary Elmbridge Borough Commander

Today, I met with our new temporary Elmbridge Borough Commander, Inspector Bert Dean, following Inspector Dallas McDermott’s recent move. Bert has hit the ground running locally. He updated me on the action that is being taken to keep crime low in Elmbridge, particularly around burglaries and drugs crime across the Borough. It was also good to hear about the significant reduction in the number of illegal encampments following the injunction secured by Elmbridge Borough Council.

Finally, we discussed the impact of the recent government spending review on local policing. The government has committed to recruiting an extra 20,000 police officers across the UK, with an additional £750 million being given to the Home Office to begin this process. Locally this will allow Surrey Police to hire one hundred new Officers, Police Community Support Officers and front-line police staff by April 2020.

Catching up with Inspector Dallas McDermott

Today, I had a useful update with Elmbridge Borough Commander, Inspector Dallas McDermott.

First, Dallas briefed me on the welcome news that Elmbridge will get an extra 3 police officers as well as a dedicated youth intervention officer. Dallas also gave me an update on the stabbing in Hinchley Wood in January, and progress towards successful prosecution of the assailant.

Next, Dallas updated me on crime figures for the last financial year – burglary was down 15% and anti-social behaviour was down 7%, which is a real testament to our great local police men and women. Finally, we discussed the action that has been taken against illegal encampments, which we incurred last summer across the Borough.

Update from Surrey Chief Constable

Last week, I met with Gavin Stephens, the Surrey Chief Constable to discuss Elmbridge residents’ concerns and priorities for local policing. The Chief Constable explained that Surrey Police will hire one hundred new Officers, Police Community Support Officers and front line police staff by April 2020.

Of the new staff, Elmbridge will see between 3 and 5 new Officers dedicated specifically to the borough, as well as benefitting from extra support from specialist teams working (cross-county) to reduce crime originating from outside the county, which accounts for roughly half of all crime in Surrey.

We also discussed the shocking recent stabbing in Hinchley Wood. The Chief Constable updated me on the progress with the investigation and Surrey Police’s wider work to prevent violent crime in the Borough.

Finally, we discussed ongoing action to address the illegal traveller encampments, which we saw last summer. I welcomed the proactive enforcement approach taken by Elmbridge’s Neighbourhood Inspector Dallas McDermott. The Conservative-run Elmbridge Borough Council has also secured an injunction which will make it easier to remove illegal encampments.

New Powers to Combat Illegal Traveller Encampments

In April 2018, as Housing Minister, I launched a consultation looking at how the government could do more to help local councils and the police combat illegal traveller encampments. The Government has now published its detailed plans to give the police new powers to disperse unauthorised encampments, and support local councils in using their existing powers.

As someone who lives in the constituency, I appreciate that illegal encampments, and the related littering and anti-social behaviour they can sometimes bring, are a real concern for residents. Last summer, the Conservative-run Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) acted quickly to secure a High Court injunction making it easier for them to remove encampments. For my part, I have been pushing for reform in Parliament.

The Government’s proposals will change the law to permit the police to move trespassers on to suitable authorised sites in neighbouring local authorities, quadruple the period of time in which trespassers moved on from land would be unable to return, lower the threshold of caravans or vehicles required before police powers can be exercised from 6 to 2, and empower the police to move illegal encampments on from roundabouts or verges. The Home Office will also review how to make trespass a criminal offence, as has been done successfully in Ireland.

I also met with Tim Oliver, the new Leader of Surrey County Council, who briefed me on the action EBC is taking to identify locations for a designated transit site in the Borough. This would make it easier for police to move on illegal encampments.

Taken together, these measures will reinforce the police and local authorities’ ability to remove illegal encampments, and to prevent their return.

Local Police Funding Boost

At the end of last week, the government announced that Surrey police will receive up to an extra £17.6 million next year to support local policing. This includes an extra £3.9 million from central government, and the potential of a further £13.8 million from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) precept. It would represent an 8.1% increase in funding compared to this year, and will help the police in Elmbridge tackle burglaries, anti-social behaviour, and other local priorities.

The money comes as part of the biggest annual increase in police funding since 2010, which will see up to an extra £813 million available to police forces nationally in 2019/20, compared to 2018/19. The increase includes an extra £161 million from central government to support front line services, £153 million to help with the cost of police pensions, and a further £90 million for the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy. Together, this money will help maintain and improve our local police forces and the vital services they provide our community.

Unauthorised Encampment Injunction Extended

Last week, the Conservative-led Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) secured an extension to the protective injunction banning the setting up of unauthorised encampments and fly-tipping in our local parks and open spaces.

The injunction prevents people from entering or occupying the borough’s parks, open spaces and car parks for the purposes of living there (including caravans, mobile homes and vehicles). Anyone who breaches the injunction will be liable for sanctions including fines, seizure of assets and even imprisonment. The injunction will also make it easier for the Council to move illegal encampments on, as they will not need to go through the process of securing a Court Order for each individual site, saving time and money.

EBC initially secured a three-month injunction in August as blogged here. Following EBC’s application, the High Court has now agreed to extend it for three years. This is good news for local residents – and a testament to the Conservative-run council, which has been under Tim Oliver’s leadership since May.

I am supporting this action. In July, I met with Elmbridge’s new Neighbourhood Police Inspector, Dallas McDermott, to talk through police enforcement action in Elmbridge and to convey the concerns of local residents about illegal incursions. Inspector McDermott reassured me that Surrey Police understand the frustration of residents and are taking a more pro-active approach against illegal encampments.

As Housing and Planning Minister, I brought forward new proposals in April to strengthen enforcement powers, encourage county-wide authorised sites, and consider a new offence of criminal trespass.

I have had regular discussions with my successor as Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse, about the proposals. I raised the matter with him again recently, following the incursions in Elmbridge. He has reassured me that the government has finished consulting on the proposals, and will be setting out its plans shortly.

As an Elmbridge resident, I appreciate the level of frustration with illegal encampments. I will continue to work at a local and national level to prevent their recurrence and reinforce the powers available to deal with them responsibly.

 

Update on Illegal Traveller Encampments in Elmbridge

This month many residents have contacted me regarding illegal traveller incursions across Elmbridge, in particular in Cobham, Claygate, Long Ditton, Esher and Walton-on-Thames. I share the acute frustration many residents feel at these illegal encampments, and I am taking action at every level to tackle the issue.

First, locally, I met with Elmbridge’s new Neighbourhood Police Inspector, Dallas McDermott, at the end of July to talk through police enforcement action in Elmbridge and to convey the concerns of local residents about illegal incursions. Inspector McDermott reassured me that Surrey Police understand the frustration of residents and have been taking a more pro-active approach against illegal encampments than they had in the past.

This has produced results. I am relieved that the encampments on the Recreation Ground in Long Ditton, Claygate Recreation Ground, Halfway Car Park in Walton, Cobham Recreation Ground and the Lower Green Recreation Ground in Esher have all been removed, with full clear-up operations underway at all the sites.

As well as this, the Conservative-run Elmbridge Borough Council has secured an injunction in the High-Court preventing people from entering or occupying the borough’s parks, open spaces and car parks for the purposes of living there (including caravans, mobile homes and vehicles). Anyone who breaches the injunction will be liable for sanctions including imprisonment, fines and seizure of assets. It will also make it easier for the Council to move illegal encampments on, as they will not need to go through the process of securing a Court Order for each individual site, saving time and money.

While local enforcement is important, we also need a change at the national level. In April of this year, as Housing and Planning Minister, I brought forward new proposals to strengthen enforcement powers, provide county-wide authorised sites and consider introducing a new offence of criminal trespass.

I moved from that role in July to become the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, but I have had regular discussions with my successor, Kit Malthouse, about the proposals. I raised the matter with him again recently, following the incursions in Elmbridge. He has reassured me that the government has finished consulting on the proposals, and will be setting out its plans shortly.

As someone who lives in the community, I totally appreciate the level of frustration with illegal encampments. More importantly, I will continue to work at a local and national level to prevent their recurrence and reinforce the powers available to deal with them.

Meeting Elmbridge’s New Neighbourhood Inspector

On Friday, I met with Dallas McDermott, the new neighbourhood inspector for Elmbridge. Dallas took over from Sarah Milligan at the beginning of June. Insp McDermott and I discussed a range of issues, including burglaries across the Borough, which have substantially decreased since last year.

Next, Dallas explained the enforcement action the police have taken against illegal encampments in Walton, Cobham and Esher.

Finally, we discussed Surrey Police’s plans to reinforce stronger visible presence of Officers across the Borough.

It was great to meet Dallas, and I really appreciate the energy and enthusiasm that he will bring to the job. I look forward to working closely with him.