Letter: Cross-party Effort Required to Improve Police Resourcing in Surrey

Published on: 16 May, 2024
Updated on: 16 May, 2024

Guildford Police Station (image Google)

From: Nigel Keane

In response to: Guildford Police Station to Close – Officers to Move to Mount Browne HQ

The lack of easy public access to police is the main reason that the Metropolitan Police is in such a mess. Surrey emulating them is very disturbing and is not providing a proper public service to our community.

When Godalming Police Station closed counter services were transferred to the Waverley Council offices but now there is no public counter. Closing most of the police stations around Surrey and selling the sites off to raise money was a false economy.

Visible policing is essential and I do not mean driving past in a car. Junior officers hardly have time to stop as they are short-staffed.

I realise that the disaster that was Theresa May as Home Secretary did not help as she was against proper crime-fighting with her anti-stop and search policy which, although controversial, did get results. Of course, it does require proper monitoring by supervisors.

We need to recruit and retain more officers in Surrey and for the Home Office to allocate proper funding and have an allowance nearer that of the Metropolitan Police to stop the Met poaching officers. Especially as London Criminals do visit Surrey to commit crime.

I suggest that, following his comment on the above-linked article, Cllr George Potter, with his SCC hat on, joins with county council members from other parties in a concerted effort to gain more money.

I would point out that all recent governments have ignored the problem of sufficient funding in Surrey and I doubt whether a new Labour Government would do anything without a bit of prodding from councils and overcoming an obstructive Home Office Civil Service.

Responses to Letter: Cross-party Effort Required to Improve Police Resourcing in Surrey

Barry C Williams Reply

May 16, 2024 at 12:33 pm

Perhaps the UK should look at the Japanese system of Local / Neighbourhood policing called “KOBAN ” which has been also adopted in Brazil, notably Sao Paulo, in Singapore and in parts of New York City.

Beyond the contribution to public safety with strict surveillance over ” known individuals” and locations, the officers’ extensive knowledge of the geography, residents and traders within their community area has gained a universal respect. They are not in patrol cars but are a visible presence at their KOBAN police boxes.

The idea, to quote the English website of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police (Keishicho) is that these small outposts “serve the needs of the local community and make the residents feel safe and secure”.
Olly Azad Reply

May 17, 2024 at 10:12 pm

“Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” seemed to be the main rhetoric coming from various political parties not so long ago, so I hardly think that the clousure of Police Stations in Surrey and elsewhere in the country will achieve these objectives?

When a leading retailer like Marks and Spencer is on record as saying that the police are “not interested” in shoplifting and that staff are getting “very little help from the police,” what kind of signals are we sending to the criminal fraternity?

Whoever might form the next government they should do try to be true to themselves when dealing with issues of policing matters and law and order.