Focus Groups

Focus Groups are an important method for finding out more about how people feel about a particular service or issue. As we all know, policing can sometimes be a contentious and complex talking point, and we will sometimes need to use Focus Groups to discuss a given topic at length, exploring in detail how people view the issues in question.

We run our Focus Groups two or three times per year, on a range of subjects. Rather than planning the topics too far in advance, we hope to use our Focus Groups to look at issues if and when they arise.

How do they work?

Our Focus Groups bring together a group of 8-12 local people in a meeting room, to participate in a discussion led by a Facilitator working on behalf of Surrey Police Authority. The Facilitator puts questions to the people on the Focus Group, encouraging open debate and discussion between everyone present. The discussions are recorded and the conclusions fed back to the 17 Members of the Police Authority to inform their decisions on policing issues in the county.

Focus Groups can be extremely valuable in tackling issues that are difficult or complicated, and they play an important role in making sure that our consultations with local people are both wide-ranging and meaningful.

How do I take part in a focus group?

We maintain a list of people who want to participate in a Focus Group with us. We contact these people as and when an opportunity arises for them to get involved in one.

If you would be interested in participating in a Focus Group with Surrey Police Authority and would like to have your name put on the interested persons list, please contact us by telephone on 01483 630 200, by email at spa@surrey.police.uk or by post: Surrey Police Authority, PO Box 412, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1BR

Focus Groups 2009

Surrey Police Authority is keen to find out more about the experiences of our BME and LGBT residents, who are often under-represented in our county-wide consultations. In November 2009, we invited people from these communities to join us for 2 hour discussion groups where they could speak openly and frankly about their views on how Surrey Police is performing, and what its priorities should be for the year ahead.

The Authority is grateful to all of the people who took part in these sessions, which have provided new and valuable insights which will help us make sure that Surrey Police is serving the interests of local people from all backgrounds.