Officer and Suspect Fall into the Wey During Quick Reaction Anti-Robbery Arrest Operation

Published on: 29 Dec, 2022
Updated on: 29 Dec, 2022

The Friary Shopping Centre in North Street where some of the reported robberies took place

A police officer and a suspect fell into the River Wey during a police operation to arrest a group of youths from London reported to have been commiting robbery in the town centre yesterday afternoon (December 28).

See also: London Teenagers Arrested Following Daylight Robbery in Town Centre – Witnesses Sought

Officers received reports around 5.20pm of a number of youths were being targeted by a group of teenagers who, using physical force and threatening violence, demanded personal belongings were handed over.

Eight separate victims were targeted in the vicinity of the Friary Shopping Centre and the High Street.

Within 30 minutes, officers had arrested five of the six suspects. The remaining suspect was arrested later.

The six 17-year-olds, who are all from London, remain in custody.

Following the initial call from the first victim, CCTV operators monitoring the town centre were able to locate the suspects.

A number of officers, including divisional officers and officers from the roads policing and tactical firearms units, responded to the incident and used the directions provided by the CCTV operators to track the suspects down.

During the arrests, one of the officers and one of the suspects ended up in the River Wey but were quickly dragged from the water by their colleagues and treated for cold water shock.

Superintendent Fash Mohammadi said: “As we were receiving reports of youths being robbed by a group of teenagers, the CCTV operators were able to locate them in the town centre and direct our teams to them to ensure they were swiftly arrested and taken into custody. Following further enquiries, another suspect was identified and detained later that evening.

“We have also managed to reunite some of the victims with their possessions and they are all being provided with the appropriate support while we progress our investigation.”

Supt Mohammadi continued: “I would like to thank all the officers and staff involved in this incident for their tenacity and determination – this was an outstanding team effort to identify, locate and detain the offenders responsible and disrupt further violent crime being committed in the town centre.

“Our enquiries remain ongoing and we would like to speak to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and seen any suspicious activity to contact us.”

A Surrey Police spokesperson said: “We are appealing for any witnesses who may have been in the area at the time and seen any suspicious activity to contact us quoting PR/45220139979 via:

• Webchat on our website www.surrey.police.uk
• Our online reporting tool https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/
• Calling us on 101

”If you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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