Measures to put more neighbourhood police on beat

Surrey Police will have its "highest number of officers in a generation" after receiving funds for 40 patrol recruits, the force has said.

The estimated £2.5m from central government will add to the 222 extra officers who joined the force since 2021.

The new recruits will likely comprise of 25 full time police officers and 15 special constables.

Tim De Meyer, the force's chief constable, said it was "a chance to strengthen our presence in the heart of our communities".

He said: "It's about building lasting relationships and ensuring that we are seen as a trusted resource, not just an authority figure.

"The guarantee reinforces our commitment to community engagement, crime prevention, and proactive policing."

The programme is part of the government's plan to have at least one named, contactable officer in each neighbourhood, as well as dedicated teams on patrol in town centres and other hotspots, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.

There will also be dedicated antisocial behaviour leads in every force which Surrey Police said reflects the government's recognition of the public's crime and safety concerns.

Surrey Police said it had a total of 2,336 officers in March.

Lisa Townsend, the force's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "Neighbourhood policing is a key commitment for Surrey Police, and residents are already benefiting from that focus, with an additional 3,500 charges and 2,500 more arrests across all crime types in 12 months.

"Initiatives such as the Safer Streets programme and hotspot policing have led to increased trust and greater intelligence gathering in our communities."

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