A FRESH approach to police engagement in Farnham is under way, as the force welcomes borough commander inspector Gary Smith.

Following a spate of ram raids across the area, concerns were raised on social media by members of the public regarding police presence in the town and response times to raids. But, the inspector clarified that officers were deployed within minutes, focused on finding the perpetrators.

He confirmed it is a “national problem that is being looked at nationally”, and that “several groups” are targeting cash machines.

He continued: “It’s a joined-up approach to try and deal with that, not only from the police but also the manufacturers of ATMs, the companies that house them, banks and such like, and it is something where there is a lot of work going on in the background and hopefully that will bear through in the near future.”

Police Sergeant Andy Crane, part of the specialist neighbourhood team (SNT) for Waverley, added: “Clearly we have to deal with perpetrators, that is our role, but in an ideal world you design the ways that it can’t happen in the first place and that’s where partnership work comes in - working with the businesses, working with people who design the buildings, all that kind of stuff has to happen in a reasonably slow process and will take a bit of time.”

Both officers were keen to highlight that although “we don’t have a big blue light in a police station anymore”, which Inspector Smith said was “a shame”, they “do have a policing office over at the fire station”.

He added: “The ambition is to let people know that we are still there, we are still out and about even if you don’t see us.”

The team posts regular updates to the @WaverleyPolice Facebook page, including officers getting ‘out and about’, breaking news and attendance at events.

Another crime which “has come to the forefront” recently is online grooming - something parents in the area are being warned about after somebody posed as a child and requested indecent images of children through online video game ‘Fortnite’, as reported in last week’s Herald.

Inspector Smith confirmed police are “developing techniques, tactics and putting in resources”, but that awareness around the crime is needed, including how predators engage with young people, what things parents need to identify and encouraging school children to say ‘I don’t know this person, I’m not going to talk to them’.

Part of this is breaking down the “barrier” that the inspector believes was built up when the “move to withdraw from schools” was made. He would like the force to build on this and has already approached schools about going in and having “meaningful two-way conversations” with students, as officers are there to be “someone that children and young people can come and talk to”.