BOROUGH commander Inspector Gary Smith has welcomed proposals from Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro to increase the number of police officers in Surrey.

In a letter to the Herald, published on December 6, Inspector Smith wrote: “Waverley is the largest borough at 133.5 square miles and the fourth most populous, and yet other boroughs have larger policing teams.”

Mr Munro has now launched his annual consultation on the police precept, asking council tax payers whether they would be willing to pay an extra £2 a month – based on a Band D property – for an additional 100 police officers in Surrey.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald, Inspector Smith said: “I think there has been a slight change in the PCC recognises potentially the neighbourhood teams are not as big as they could be and that, with more resources within the neighbourhood teams, we can do more.

“Ultimately, that is the biggest area of complaint I get. People’s perception is they don’t see police officers.

“It doesn’t mean we’re not there but it would be nice to be able to be out and about more and to show we are present.”

* Have your say on the consultation at surrey-pcc.gov.uk.

Murder investigation

When murder suspect Darren Pencille and his alleged accomplice Chelsea Mitchell were arrested at a flat in Willbury Court – following the fatal stabbing of Lee Pomeroy in front of his teenage son on a train in Surrey on January 4 – the eye of the country descended upon Farnham.

Insp Smith told the Herald Surrey Police officers were involved in the arrest and were “supporting” colleagues from British Transport Police, but did not say whether that included Farnham officers.

He added: “Surrey Police have supported throughout, from the time the matter was called in to the police and even now, while there is still assistance being provided”.

Police priorities

As previously reported in the Herald, a priority for police during the winter months is burglaries.

There is an “unfortunate spike” in incidents before Christmas, according to the inspector.

But Sergeant Andy Crane, who is part of the specialist neighbourhood team for Waverley, says concerns have been raised now in Fairfield, up near the railway station, Bourne recreation ground and Hale recreation ground.

This is slightly unusual at this time of year, he said. “The team is doing some work to try to work out what is – or isn’t – going on and then we’ll respond accordingly,” he said.

“A lot of the incidents concern anti-social behaviour-type reports – things like noisy vehicles late at night, noise, litter and things like that.”

Doorstep sellers

According to Insp Smith, there have been reports on social media in the past couple of months about people knocking on doors and being “verbally abusive”.

Despite this, he said the force had not seen an increase in people reporting these kinds of incidents. “If we don’t know people are being affected, our hands are tied as to what action we can take,” he said.

No cold-calling zones have been trialled in Surrey in the past, but petered out because there wasn’t a demand for them, he said.

“However, if that is something people would like, we can try to reinstigate them,” he said.

Insp Smith’s advice is that if someone is worried about a caller to their front door, simplydo not open it.

Sgt Crane added: “Legitimate doorstep sellers will not be offended if you say you are not prepared to open the door, or that you don’t do business at the doorstep.

“That isn’t a problem and people shouldn’t be worried or embarrassed about saying ‘I’m not answering the door’.”

Ram-raid investigation

The news four men were charged and remanded in custody before Christmas in connection with a string of cash-machine thefts across Surrey and Hampshire is a positive move not just for Surrey Police, but for south-east forces in general, according to the inspector.

The case is currently going through the court process.

“That’s something that is never very quick as we need to give all parties the time to look at available evidence,” he said.

Sgt Crane added: “Sometimes the time to strike isn’t straight away. It’s difficult because we live in a world now, with social media and computers and online shopping, when everything is at your fingertips and you get answers straight away.

“The justice system, quite rightly, doesn’t work that way – and shouldn’t work that way.

“I can see why that can appear frustrating or appear something has dropped off the radar, but it’s not the case.”