Latest news with #BlaineRafferty
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Campaign sees better behaviour in town, police say
More police officers and better visibility led to less weekend anti-social behaviour in Guildford, Surrey Police says. An 18-month campaign to tackle nuisance behaviour saw violent crime and offences linked to youth-related crime drop by 75% in the town in that time, the force said. The campaign, backed by a £273,000 Home Office grant, included TV adverts during Six Nations rugby matches and work with fast food outlets and shops. Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said she was "very proud" of the campaign's impact while Guildford borough commander Inspector Blaine Rafferty said it was "important that we communicate the level of acceptable behaviour that is expected". A spokesperson for Surrey Police said the scheme, part of the Home Office's Safer Streets initiative, involved targeting crime hotspots in Guildford with an increased police presence on weekends. Dispersal orders in the town centre also allowed the force to arrest people who were repeatedly causing trouble within a 48 hour period. PCC Townsend said that, while funding for the scheme had not continued into the new financial year which began in April, Surrey Police officers would continue to be present in the town at weekends. Inspector Rafferty added: "Tackling issues like ASB and retail crime remain ongoing priorities for us, and having officers patrolling the streets means we're here and ready to address any issues as they arise. "I'm delighted that our partnership work has made an impact in helping to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all, and the Home Office funding has been vital in allowing us to make improvements." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Teenagers arrested on suspicion of sexual assault Arrests after retail crime crackdown Surrey Police
BBC News
11-05-2025
- BBC News
Surrey Police campaign leads to drop in Guildford crime
More police officers and better visibility led to less weekend anti-social behaviour in Guildford, Surrey Police 18-month campaign to tackle nuisance behaviour saw violent crime and offences linked to youth-related crime drop by 75% in the town in that time, the force campaign, backed by a £273,000 Home Office grant, included TV adverts during Six Nations rugby matches and work with fast food outlets and Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said she was "very proud" of the campaign's impact while Guildford borough commander Inspector Blaine Rafferty said it was "important that we communicate the level of acceptable behaviour that is expected". A spokesperson for Surrey Police said the scheme, part of the Home Office's Safer Streets initiative, involved targeting crime hotspots in Guildford with an increased police presence on orders in the town centre also allowed the force to arrest people who were repeatedly causing trouble within a 48 hour Townsend said that, while funding for the scheme had not continued into the new financial year which began in April, Surrey Police officers would continue to be present in the town at Rafferty added: "Tackling issues like ASB and retail crime remain ongoing priorities for us, and having officers patrolling the streets means we're here and ready to address any issues as they arise."I'm delighted that our partnership work has made an impact in helping to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all, and the Home Office funding has been vital in allowing us to make improvements."
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
New anti-social behaviour rules begin in Guildford
Using vehicles, including bicycles, skateboards, scooters and wheeled toys, in a dangerous way in pedestrian parts of Guildford town centre has been banned under new rules to tackle anti-social public space protection order (PSPO) came into force on Tuesday and will last until 31 March restrictions also include drinking alcohol in public after receiving a verbal warning from an authorised person, and behaving or encouraging others to behave in a rowdy and inconsiderate Merel Rehorst-Smith said: "Our goal is to strike a careful balance between protecting individual freedoms and ensuring our town centre feels safe and welcoming for everyone." Some of the original proposals for the regulations were changed after being opposed by University of Surrey students, according to the Local Democracy Reporting made amendments to the text, for example, to clarify that bicycles are not being singled out, after there were concerns that residents would be discouraged from using sustainable transport methods. The PSPO is an extension of a scheme which was introduced in Guildford in April town centre, Stoke Park and some neighbouring residential roads and the Mount area, including Black Cat Alley, near the bottom of Farnham Road, where there have been reports of anti-social behaviour, are areas included in the Blaine Rafferty, Guildford Borough Commander, said Surrey Police were working with the council to "make Guildford a safer place to live and work"."We hope that the Public Space Protection Order will help accomplish that, and we believe that a coordinated approach can make a significant difference in preventing anti-social behaviour and improving residents' quality of life," he said. With additional reporting from local democracy reporter Emily Dalton.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man sought after nightclub sexual assault
Police investigating a sexual assault at a nightclub in Surrey have issued an image of a man they would like to identify. A woman was sexually assaulted by an unknown man while out with friends in Guildford in the early hours of 12 January, police said. The offence reportedly happened in Popworld in Bridge Street between 01:30 and 02:00 GMT. Insp Blaine Rafferty said an increased police presence would be visible in the town centre over the weekend. "We understand that this will be concerning for residents and the local community," he said. "If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to one of our officers should you see them on patrol." Anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image is urged to contact police. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Surrey Police
BBC News
13-02-2025
- BBC News
Guildford: Man sought by police after nightclub sexual assault
Police investigating a sexual assault at a nightclub in Surrey have issued an image of a man they would like to identify.A woman was sexually assaulted by an unknown man while out with friends in Guildford in the early hours of 12 January, police offence reportedly happened in Popworld in Bridge Street between 01:30 and 02:00 Blaine Rafferty said an increased police presence would be visible in the town centre over the weekend. "We understand that this will be concerning for residents and the local community," he said."If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to one of our officers should you see them on patrol."Anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image is urged to contact police.
