South Walton & Ambleside

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is a priority across the Borough. ASB can have a significant impact on local communities and includes behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress. We encourage residents to report any incidents they witness. Your local policing team will work alongside partner organisations to identify issues, take action where appropriate, and help keep our neighbourhoods safe.

Walton is experiencing recurring ASB linked to youth nuisance, alcohol-related disorder, street drinking and suspected drug misuse. The most significant concerns are centred around Stompond Lane / Hersham Road area, where behaviour is having a disproportionate impact on vulnerable residents and community confidence. A coordinated response involving neighbourhood policing, Community Safety and partner agencies is working to reduce repeat incidents and improve public reassurance.

Our Live Facial Recognition (LFR) van was deployed in Walton as part of ongoing efforts to tackle retail crime, anti-social behaviour and drug-related offences. The operation forms part of our wider commitment to reducing crime, preventing disorder and helping to keep Walton a safe place for everyone.

Illegal Moorings along the River Thames
We continue to support the Environment Agency in addressing illegal moorings along the River Thames through targeted joint days of action and partnership patrols. Our latest day of action was conducted on 18th June, working alongside the Environment Agency from their patrol boat. During the operation, officers successfully located a male wanted for violent offences who was believed to be living on the river. We will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency and other partners to address community concerns, enforce relevant legislation, and ensure the river remains a safe environment for all users.

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) remains a key borough-wide priority. Encompassing a broad range of offences and harmful behaviours committed primarily, though not exclusively, by men against women and girls, VAWG requires a coordinated response. Local officers will work in partnership with relevant agencies to identify and pursue offenders, reduce risk, and improve safety in areas where women and girls report feeling vulnerable or unsafe.

During the Summer we organised a range of opportunities for women across the borough to engage directly with officers, gain insight into how we are tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), and raise awareness of the support and initiatives available.

Dedicated patrols are being conducted within the night-time economy, including the deployment of specially trained Behavioural Detection Officers to identify and deter predatory behaviour.

Enhanced licensing visits are taking place across the borough, alongside the promotion of safeguarding initiatives such as Ask Angela, ensuring staff are equipped to support those who may feel vulnerable or at risk.

We are working closely with local event organisers to promote and deliver VAWG Safe events, helping to create safer environments and improve confidence among women and girls attending community events.

Drug-related harm has a significant impact on our communities. We will target organised crime groups and county lines networks that exploit vulnerable people and children, while taking proactive action to reduce associated violence.

Local officers will gather intelligence, disrupt criminal activity, and use appropriate enforcement and safeguarding powers to protect those at risk of exploitation, helping to keep our communities safe.

In June, the Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Team and Neighbourhood Enforcement Team carried out warrants in Walton and Hersham, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of suspected Class A and Class B drugs, cash and electronic devices. Three people were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs and remain under investigation, having been bailed pending further enquiries.

Officers continue to work proactively to identify and disrupt those involved in drug dealing and associated criminality. Through intelligence-led operations, partnership working and targeted enforcement activity, we aim to reduce the harm caused by illegal drugs, safeguard vulnerable people at risk of exploitation and improve the safety of our communities.

As part of our autumn and winter burglary campaign, neighbourhood officers will increase high-visibility patrols in burglary hotspots and areas affected by Serious Acquisitive Crime (SAC). Working closely with local residents and partners, officers will use intelligence-led policing to identify and target offenders, provide reassurance to communities, and support victims through crime prevention advice and property marking initiatives aimed at reducing repeat offending.

Burglary

The Elmbridge Burglary Working Group have brought together key partners from across the borough, including Surrey Police, Network Rail, British Transport Police, private security companies, and residents' associations.

The group's priorities for 2026/27 are to:

•Reduce the number of burglary victims across Elmbridge.
•Increase public confidence in Surrey Police, residents' associations, private security partners, and Network Rail.
•Dedicated high-visibility and covert burglary patrols targeting identified hotspot locations to deter offending, disrupt criminal activity, and provide reassurance to local communities

Partnership working is having a positive impact. Burglary offences across Elmbridge were 20% lower in 2025 compared with 2024. As part of the 2025/26 Burglary Campaign, 13 offenders have been arrested, with 6 subsequently charged.

Vehicle Crime
We know that a significant proportion of vehicle crime involves vehicles being left unlocked. To help raise awareness, we have purchased a number of large roadside signs which will be moved around the borough to highlight this issue. Please help protect yourself from becoming a victim by:

• Locking your vehicle, even when parked outside your home.
• Removing valuables from sight.
• Ensuring windows and sunroofs are fully closed.

A few simple steps can make a significant difference in preventing vehicle crime.

Residents can expect to see a greater Police presence in Town Centres, with officers deployed to hotspot locations identified through data and intelligence. These patrols are designed to prevent and disrupt crime and anti-social behaviour, including shop theft, street theft and assaults against retail staff, while providing reassurance and increasing public confidence in local policing.

Our Live Facial Recognition (LFR) van was deployed in Walton during the Summer as part of ongoing efforts to tackle retail crime, anti-social behaviour and drug-related offences. The operation forms part of our wider commitment to reducing crime, preventing disorder and helping to keep Walton a safe place for everyone.

Work has been undertaken with Elmbridge Borough Council to improve CCTV provision within retail centres.
Work has been undertaken to promote the Digital Integrated Security Centre (DISC) reporting platform, initially through Walton BID, to improve the reporting and intelligence sharing of retail crime.

Officers have been engaging with local retailers to identify concerns, improve reporting and look at ways to make town centres safer for businesses, staff and visitors.