Six days without a report of crime: How police are ‘problem-solving’ offending in Woking town centre

One initiative has seen PCSOs and officers hosting regular Meet the Beat sessions at eight local retailers across Woking, as well as making routine visits to chat with staff and customers. Across these eight stores, retail crime has dropped by a total of 60 per cent.

The Force is also using an empty retail space in the Victoria Place Shopping Centre to host a Cop Shop Stop for residents and visitors to attend, as well as meetings with partners.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson joined Woking’s Borough Commander Inspector Ed Lyons, Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, and Woking MP Will Forster for a summit in the town this week.

During the meeting, Inspector Lyons said partnership working between Surrey Police, Woking Borough Council, local retailers and The Peacocks Centre is having a dramatic effect.

Insp Lyons told Dame Diana: “We want to make sure people in Woking are aware that this is their town, and they have a right to feel safe and secure.

“We are using intelligence-led policing backed by data to determine crime patterns, and then deploying high-visibility patrols and enhanced CCTV use.

“This hard work can be seen across the county having obtained over 1,200 shoplifting charges, a 32.3% increase on the previous year, and increased arrest rates by 12.1%.

“We are also working closely with our partners to ensure this work can last.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said the Force is turning the tide on criminals with “back-to-basics" policing – a key priority in her Police and Crime Plan.

This work forms part of Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer, a wide-ranging programme of events across 11 town centres in the county. The initiative targets crime types that typically increase during the summer months, including anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, retail crime, and violent offending.

Lisa said: “I’d like to thank Dame Diana for joining the team in Woking for this fantastic event.

“Police in the town used data and intelligence to pinpoint the areas where criminality was proportionately more common. Their aim is not just to respond to offending, but to stop it taking place altogether.

“Recently, there were six consecutive days where no crimes were reported in the town centre, with another 48 hours of no reports shortly after that. However, we urge anyone who needs to contact their police to do so, either on 101 or by calling 999 in an emergency.

“This problem-solving work is back-to-basics policing at its finest, which is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan.

“By working with businesses and the borough council, the team are making a huge difference to one of Surrey’s most vibrant and busy town centres.”