Surrey Police And Commissioner Declare Support For Climate Emergency

Published on: 16 Nov, 2019
Updated on: 20 Nov, 2019

Surrey Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Surrey, David Munro, have announced their support for declaring a climate emergency.

In a statement on the PCC website on November 7, David Munro said: “Climate change affects everyone and as an organisation employing over 4,000 people, I firmly believe we have a responsibility in ensuring we play our part in policing to protect the environment we live in.”

Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, David Munro, with Extinction Rebellion supporters on the steps of Holy Trinity Church in Guildford in September 2019.

This move follows climate emergency declarations by both Surrey County Council (SCC) and Guildford Borough Council (GBC) earlier in the year. SCC has committed to “a strategy for becoming carbon neutral as early as possible” and GBC by 2030.

David Munro had spoken to The Guildford Dragon NEWS in September 2019, saying: “We are living in a crisis and we have to get it right. It is absolutely splendid that Surrey County Council has declared there to be a climate emergency and I think that the police should consider following suit.”

In the latest PCC statement, David Munro said: “Surrey Police has already made a number of changes to go greener in recent years. I want to see us as an organisation build on that momentum and have a clear plan on how we can make our buildings and processes as environmentally-friendly as possible with the aim of reaching our carbon-neutral target by 2030.”

There was a huge police presence in London during the Climate Change protests in October this year. Surrey Police recognise the climate emergency but police tactics in controlling the protest were criticised.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “At Surrey Police we have committed to making greener organisational choices such as investing in electric vehicles and testing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for a more environmentally friendly fleet.

“As a large employer we have a responsibility to make these big changes in our fleet and estate, and also to support our staff in making every day environmentally friendly choices at work, and at home through agile working.

“From the design of our future estate to the removal of disposable cups and improved recycling, we encourage our teams to suggest and make changes for the better.

“Over the last few years we have held events to learn more about different environmental topics. In November we are hosting a staff event focused on energy, water, waste and travel, with companies offering advice on how we can be environmentally smarter. Small steps by many can make a big difference in saving our climate.”