A COMMITMENT to ensure Surrey Police “delivers more visible policing” is one of Surrey’s police and crime commissioner’s priorities for the force.

A review of community policing, following requests by Surrey residents for “more uniformed officers out on the streets” is promised in new PCC David Munro’s first police and crime plan, launched last week.

In it, Mr Munro pledged to cut crime, support victims, tackle rural crime, make town centres safe, cut costs and tackle the threat of terrorism.He formulated his six priorities after talking to residents before being elected earlier this year.

Surrey Police introduced Policing in Your Neighbourhood Model in April, which resulted in cuts to safer neighbourhood teams. Mr Munro has said he would review it but he also wanted to see “communities do more to help and support local police, and volunteer when they have time to do so”.

Mr Munro also promises to take urgent action to provide “proper support” for the victims of crime, following last year’s report by official watchdog Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, which judged the force ‘inadequate’ last December, in protecting vulnerable people and victims of crime.

On tackling rural crime, he promised to improve the 101 non-emergency contact number, put in place measures to achieve better responses and ensure victims have a single point of contact throughout an investigation.

“I hear that people can find it difficult to contact the police about non-emergency issues,” he said. “I want to understand the issues faced by Surrey Police in answering these calls and improving performance.”

To make town centres safer, Mr Munro will consider funding schemes that improve safety, especially for vulnerable people.

He will review current anti-terrorism plans and resources to ensure that Surrey Police “can keep on top of the critical task of deterring and defeating terrorists in the county”.

Pledging to make every pound count, he said: “We are in a time where all public sector services need to be as efficient as possible. I have already made savings of over £100,000 to my office budget by cutting posts and will re-direct this money to providing better services to people who need it.

“A new funding formula for policing is being developed by the Government and I will work with the Home Office to make sure that Surrey receives fair treatment.”

Surrey Chief Constable Nick Ephgrave said: “The six priorities give Surrey Police a direction that our officers and staff can support through the operational delivery plan. This works in harmony with the Police and Crime Plan and sets out how we will police our county.

“They both share the same, simple aspiration: to make Surrey as safe as it can be.”

• To read the full Police and Crime Plan go to: surrey-pcc.gov.uk/plan