Epsom & Ewell Borough Council will receive £271,712 in government funding for a project to improve safety for Epsom town centre’s night-time economy.

The Home Office’s Safer Streets funding was secured in partnership with Surrey Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Business Improvement District, Go Epsom.

These improvements are aimed specifically at supporting the safety and vitality of the night-time economy, including reducing violence against women and girls.

The funding will help the following items:

• Upgrade of CCTV in Epsom town centre
• Support businesses operating in the evening with training and accreditation
• Support the existing Street Pastors with equipment and training
• Develop a further night-time presence to build on the work of the Street Pastors
• Provide anti drink spiking equipment to licensed premises and customers
• Deliver a communications package promoting the safety of patrons in the town centre and promote personal safety

In response to ongoing issues in and around Epsom town centre, Surrey Police worked closely with Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to draw up an application for Safer Streets funding.

A survey was sent out into the community and the results were closely consulted when drafting the application. Among the concerns raised were drug use, threatening behaviour, extreme drunkenness, and violence within Epsom town centre, closely linked to the night-time economy.

The survey highlighted a desire for better signposting to help and support, and a need for increased confidence in the police response to issues within the town centre.

The application was drafted by the police and council, then approved and submitted by Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend. Other areas in Surrey to benefit from successful funding bids are Sunbury Cross and the Surrey Towers development in Addlestone.

The money will be used, among other measures, to modernise CCTV use, deliver training packages for licensed premises, and to provide free anti-drink spiking and spiking detection devices within Epsom town centre.

Councillor John Beckett, Chair of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee, said, “It’s great to hear Epsom has received the Safer Streets funding, we are particularly proud of the partnership working that took place to bring this resource together for the benefit of local residents and businesses.

“Supporting the night-time economy while ensuring the safety of residents, particularly female ones, is an important priority and we will continue to work with everyone involved to ensure this money is spent effectively. Epsom town centre is a vibrant evening economy and we are delighted to enhance safety and boost confidence for every business and visitor.”

Inspector Jon Vale, Borough Commander, said, “This is fantastic news. Surrey Police and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council have worked tirelessly as a partnership in the submission of this bid.

“The community have told us their concerns, and we have listened. The funding made available will allow the partnership to implement numerous measures that would not otherwise been a possibility.

“This will help to make Epsom town centre an even safer place for users of the night-time economy, in particular women and girls. Tackling violence against women and girls is a specific priority for the Epsom & Ewell Community Safety Partnership and this work demonstrates our shared commitment in this respect.”

Rod Brown, Chair of the Epsom and Ewell Community Safety Partnership, said, “We know from speaking with residents that the safety of their environment is of great importance. I am delighted that this award will allow us to deliver lasting benefits to the late-night economy in Epsom to allow business to invest with confidence and secure safety improvements for the town.”

Adam Kick the Chairman of Epsom and Ewell’s Pubwatch enthuses: “This is amazing news for the borough and has most certainly been achieved as a result of tireless work by all parties involved in the proposal. This funding will most certainly help towards supporting the aim of providing a vibrant nightlife where customer safety is paramount.”

Karen Pengelly, BID Manager at Go Epsom, said, “Since Epsom’s businesses reopened after Covid lockdowns, the BID has been doing lots of groundwork on safety and security, engaging with our local licensed premises and retailers and working with security experts to reduce offending.

“This fresh investment in a modern and much improved CCTV system provides Epsom with the tools that are needed to reduce theft and anti-social behaviour. It’s wonderful news.”

Surrey Police are turning to DNA technology to tackle dog thefts in the county.

Wednesday 27th July Surrey Police officially launched its partnership with DNA Protected, a UK-wide dog DNA database service designed to deter theft and help ensure a stolen dog’s safe return to its owner.

Over the past two years there has been a national increase in demand for dogs and puppies as we all spent a lot more time at home during the pandemic. Unfortunately, this demand also created a gap in the market for dog thieves and illegal breeders.

DNA Protected is a service from Cellmark Forensic Services, who hope that their innovative technology and partnership with police forces across the UK will be a game-changer when it comes to the prevention and investigation of dog thefts.

Much like a property register database, DNA Protected securely stores a profile of your dog’s unique DNA, produced from a simple mouth swab, on the forensic database. Police forces across the country can swab a dog they believe to be stolen and send the sample off for analysis and comparison against the database.

Like ours, a dog’s DNA cannot be changed or removed. If the swab comes back with a match, it can be used to reunite you with your beloved pet and provide valuable evidence in dog theft investigations.

Wildlife Crime Officer, PC Hollie Iribar, said, “Surrey Police are excited to support this unique opportunity to get ahead of the game when it comes to tackling dog thefts. These investigations are complex and can be emotionally fraught. We often see and feel that a dog clearly has a connection with its owner but trying to put that to paper and prove it beyond doubt in a courtroom is challenging. Our hope is that our partnership with DNA Protected will help us prove beyond dispute who the rightful owner of a stolen dog is, so we can focus our attention on prosecuting those responsible.”

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, said, “Over the last year we have heard from Surrey residents who are worried about dog theft and recognise the deep emotional impact that this crime has on individuals in our communities. In many cases, dogs feel like part of the family, and I understand how distressing it can be when they are stolen.

“Working to ensure that our residents across Surrey are safe and feel safe in our communities is a key priority of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Plan and supporting those concerned about dog theft is important to us. 

“That’s why we welcome this new partnership with Surrey Police. Not only will this provide a powerful deterrent to those involved in these thefts, but it will also give residents who sign up to the scheme more peace of mind that if they are a victim of a dog theft there is a much better chance of them being reunited with their dog.”

David Hartshorne, Managing Director at Cellmark Forensic Services said, “We developed the DNA Protected service with the police to assist with crime prevention and to help reunite stolen or lost dogs with their owners. The powerful forensic DNA tools we use to identify people and investigate crime are now being used to help combat dog theft.”

Dog owners can purchase a sampling kit by visiting the DNA Protected website at https://www.dnaprotected.co.uk/. The payment is a one-off fee which includes the cost of DNA profiling, storage of your dog’s profile on the database for at least ten years, and a dog tag and window sticker to let people know that your dog is on the forensic database. The site also sells branded collars, leads, and other accessories to show you have DNA protected your dog.

Surrey Police are appealing for help to identify a man who they believe may be able to help with an investigation into an assault at Epsom Downs Race Course during a music event on 7 July.

The victim, a man in his 50s, was in the grandstand area at around 9pm when he was punched to the face by another man in an assault which left him unconscious and needing hospital treatment.

The man seen in the photo may be able to help with the investigation. If you recognise him, please contact Surrey Police quoting PR/45220072717 via:

• Webchat on surrey.police.uk 
• Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report    
• Calling 101

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

Last week, as part of a national ASB Awareness Week, Surrey Police‘s safer neighbourhood teams (SNTs) joined forces with partners to shine a spotlight on anti-social behaviour (ASB) across Surrey including Epsom and Ewell, and to raise awareness of the many different ways in which they can tackle ASB within communities and provide help and support to those affected.

Epsom and Ewell Beat were out on Longmead Estate raising awareness of ASB issues with the local council and Rosebery Housing.

On social media, they spent the week sharing advice and guidance on anti-social behaviour and where to report instances in your local area. The posts touched on criminal damage such as graffiti, neighbour disputes, the Community Trigger, fly-tipping, and vehicle nuisance.

ASB is not low level and can have a huge impact on the lives of individuals and communities. Jo Grimshaw, who leads on tackling ASB for the Force said: “Our teams work hard to deal with anti-social behaviour on a daily basis – it’s part of Surrey Police’s core business. The national week of action gives us the opportunity to highlight the work they do to protect people and communities from those who think it’s acceptable to behave in a threatening, aggressive or anti-social manner. We work closely with Surrey Police’s partners to ensure that ASB victims can be referred to the appropriate agency if they are better placed to offer support and get the right outcome. If a civil resolution cannot be reached, there are a range of enforcement options available, including warning letters, closure orders, criminal behaviour orders and criminal prosecution.”

If you have reported an incident three or more times in six months and feel you are not being listened to or that the issues are still happening or escalating, you are entitled to ask for a review of your case. This is called the Community Trigger, and you can activate it through your Local Authority: 

https://asbhelp.co.uk/community-trigger/community-trigger-directory/

In the last year Surrey Police have issued across the County:

· 47 Closure Orders
· 9 Criminal Behaviour Orders
· 57 Reactive Dispersal Orders
· Over 300 warning letters.
·
These orders are proving very effective in reducing the behaviour of those committing ASB, as well as giving some respite to residents and the community.
It can be really confusing for victims to work out which agency is responsible for tackling each of the different types of ASB.
If you are a victim of ASB or know someone who is being exploited in your area, please let Surrey Police know so they can take action. For more information on the reporting options available to you visit:

www.healthysurrey.org.uk/your-health/community-safety/asb

A vulnerable 84-year-old man had his electric bike stolen by a callous thief when he left it parked outside the BP petrol station on Dorking Road, Epsom on Sunday 17th July.

The victim left the bike worth £2,800 with two bags hanging on it outside the petrol station at around 8.20pm and came out at 8.35pm to find it had gone.

The suspect has been described as a White male wearing a matching grey camo hoodie and bottoms with a yellow high vis vest over the top with the word ‘FEELY’ on the back. He was also wearing grey trainers and holding a black sports bag.

If you have any dashcam footage or information which could help, please contact Surrey Police quoting crime reference number PR/45220076573 via:

•             Webchat  surrey.police.uk

•             Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

•             Calling 101

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

A Section 35 dispersal order is in place over nearly all of Epsom Common until 5.54pm today Monday 18 July.

The Dispersal Order covers the areas of the Epsom and Ashtead Commons within the A243, Christchurch Road, Craddocks Avenue and Dorking Road. It was authorised by Acting Insp Will Cottee following reports of anti-social behaviour in the area. See map below.

The Dispersal Order gives officers the power to ask a group of two or more people to leave the dispersal area if they are committing anti-social behaviour, or if a constable believes they may, or are likely to, cause a nuisance to someone else.

Surrey Police urge members of the public to continue reporting any incidents of anti-social behaviour through private message on social media or on their website https://www.surrey.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour/.

Epsom and Ewell Times is waiting for Surrey Police to provide further details of the behaviour that has led to this restriction over such a large area. This report will be updated when received.

Surrey Police are appealing for help to identify this man, who they believe may be able to help with their investigation into a residential burglary in Epsom on Sunday, 26 June. 

The burglary took place on Linden Place in Epsom at around 12:50am. During the burglary, a coat was stolen.

Surrey Police believe the man seen in these CCTV images may be able to help with their investigation.

If you recognise him, or have any other information that could assist with their enquiries, please contact Surrey Police quoting PR/ 45220067795 via:

• Webchat on https://surrey.police.uk/
• Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/
• Calling 101

If you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11

Surrey Police are appealing for witnesses following a burglary in Ewell on Wednesday, 8 June.

Officers were called to a residential address on Cheam Road near to the junction with the A24 following reports of a burglary. It is believed the suspect entered the property at some point between 8.10am and 5.30pm. The suspect conducted an untidy search before leaving with two high-value watches, a Breitling Chronospace Military and Tag Heuer Aquaracer.

PC James Wheatland said: “If you were in the area at this time and saw anything suspicious, or have dashcam footage, please get in touch. We are doing everything we can to reunite the victim with their watches and we’re releasing images of the watches in the hope this might further our investigation. The watches have sentimental value to the victim and we’re asking the public if they recognise the watches, or have any information about where they might be found, to contact us.”

If you have any information which may assist with our investigation, please contact Surrey Police quoting PR/ 45220060913 via:

• Webchat on the website https://surrey.police.uk/
• Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/
• Calling 101

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

Surrey Police are appealing for witnesses following reports of a serious sexual assault in Epsom in the early hours of the morning of Monday 13th June.

The victim was walking through the grass area in the middle of Parkview Way at around 4am when she was pushed to the floor and sexually assaulted.

Police believe there may have been three men nearby at the time of the assault who may have information.

Officers are carrying out house to house enquiries in the area as part of the investigation and are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen someone, or a group of people, acting suspiciously in the area at the time.

If you have any information which could help the police investigation, including any smart doorbell footage, or if you were in the area at the time, please contact Surrey Police quoting PR/45220062125 via:

•            Live chat on the website https://www.surrey.police.uk/

•            Police online reporting tool: https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/

•            Calling 101

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

“You have to ask yourself is it worth it?”: Undercover officers stop 106 vehicles in just three days for road traffic offences.

A dedicated road safety campaign by Surrey officers saw 106 vehicles stopped in just three days for a variety of road traffic offences. 

Officers from the Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing and Commercial Vehicle Unit used an unmarked HGV lorry from National Highways, as well as unmarked police cars, to catch law breakers in the act.

This tactic is outside the box, but the logic is sound. A large HGV lorry is the last vehicle anyone would expect to be part of an undercover operation.

The campaign which ran from 30 May to 1 June, saw officers patrol the M25 and deal with a variety of offences including the use of mobile phones whilst driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and drug driving. 

Over the three days, officers completed 82 traffic offence reports, issued four FPNs (fixed penalty notices), and summonsed ten drivers to court. 

Surrey’s dangerous drivers will now be thinking twice when not giving their full attention to the road.

Sergeant Huw Watts, who led the team said: “This has been a very productive operation for our officers. It is always disappointing to see that the road safety message is not being received by drivers on some of the fastest roads in our counties. Despite advances in vehicle technology drivers still feel the need to use their mobile phones whilst driving including texting, checking emails, and even watching film clips!”

“Ten of the drivers we stopped will now have to attend court and potentially face losing their driving license, which will have a very real impact on their lives. We take road safety very seriously at Surrey Police and we run these dedicated operations alongside our normal road policing operations 24/7, 365 days a year. We will catch you, so you have to ask yourself is it really worth it?”

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