SURREY Police has launched a county-wide advertising campaign asking the public to think twice before they call and consider ‘Is it a Policing Matter?’

Demand is changing and as part of the ‘Policing In Your Neighbourhood’ project the force is focusing on being where it is needed most – and particularly on serious and complex crime.

Surrey Police is aiming to improve public knowledge about what is and what is not something which the police should be dealing with.

If it is a policing matter then residents are being asked to consider if it is an emergency or not.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “As part of our Policing In Your Neighbourhood project, we have already explained how our demand is increasing, For example over the last three years we have seen a 153 per cent increase in reports of rape, a 122 per cent increase in reports of sexual offences, a 34 per cent increase in reports of domestic violence and a 75 per cent increase in the reports of violence with injury offences.

“In light of this, we need to invest more, supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“Last year we dealt with 10,270 requests that should have been dealt with in a different way or by a more appropriate agency. In most cases we know that members of the public don’t know who to call and so they call us.

“But instances of things such as fly-tipping, inconsiderate parking and noise pollution are all things for your local council to deal with while concerns regarding mental health issues are generally more appropriately dealt with by a health care provider.

“If a call is a policing matter we are also using this campaign to highlight the difference between what is an emergency and what is not. Calls to 999 should only be made for serious crimes, crimes in action or if someone’s life is in danger. If it is a policing matter but does not fall into those categories we ask the public to report online or call 101 anytime.”

The new local policing model as part of the Policing In Your Neighbourhood project was unveiled in November 2015 and will go live on April 3, 2016.

Changes to front-line services will see local policing teams grow as the force will have more officers working for a specific borough or district, tackling local problems and supporting smaller but still dedicated Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

There will continue to be dedicated local Inspectors and dedicated Safer Neighbourhood Team Police Community Support Officers who will work with partners such as hospitals and councils to make communities safer.

They will be focused on solving the chronic local issues that cause the greatest risk and harm to local communities. Teams who safeguard the most vulnerable in our communities will also increase in size.

The Policing Matters campaign will see a series of advertising across TV, radio, cinema, bus backs and posters.

In November 2015, the Surrey public had the chance through an interactive game to show how they would deploy when faced with a variety of real-life calls. The #PolicingMatters game will be promoted again, building on more than 12,000 plays so far.