Our overarching strategy for policing in Surrey is known as Surrey Public First. We believe that the needs of the community we serve come first and we aim to provide a proportionate, common sense policing service based on an understanding of the priorities of residents of all backgrounds and from all of our communities. This commitment stretches from understanding the most local neighbourhood priorities, up to the biggest county-wide issues facing the Force. 

Surrey Public First can only succeed if we seek out the views of every section of a diverse Surrey community of more than 1.1m residents. As part of its scrutiny role, the Authority works to make sure that there are opportunities for all to influence policing in our county. We have agreed an Equality Strategy that sets out our ambitions in this regard. 

The objectives set out in our Equality Strategy are to:

• Ensure views representative of the community are heard at the strategic level of policing in Surrey.
• Work with communities to tackle discrimination, build respect and challenge disadvantage.
• Work with partners and stakeholders to create equal and empowered communities.
• Scrutinise, monitor and hold Surrey Police to account with regards to equality, diversity and human rights
• Ensure the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is prepared to understand and respond to equality, diversity and human rights issues

Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2012

The full strategy, along with Surrey Police Authority’s action plan detailing how we aim to deliver the objectives, can be found here.

Monitoring Surrey Police Strategy

As part of its duty to hold the Chief Constable to account, Surrey Police Authority monitors how the Force meets its own equality and diversity duties.

We have two lead Members for equality and diversity who attend quarterly performance meetings. Regular reports are presented to dedicated scrutiny panels and to full Surrey Police Authority meetings.

For more information on Surrey Police’s commitment to equality and diversity please click here.

Equality Scheme 2008-2011

Surrey Police Authority published its first Equality Scheme in 2008. This Scheme brought together the Race Relations Act, the Disability Discrimination Act and the Equality Act. The Scheme came to an end in 2011 but can be viewed here, as well as the end of scheme report presented to Surrey Police Authority.

 Equality Scheme & Action Plan 08-11       End of Scheme report

Impact Assessments

Like all public sector bodies, Surrey Police Authority is obliged to make sure our decisions and activities do not disproportionately disadvantage anyone. We must also identify where we might better promote equality of opportunity. In the past we have completed Equality Impact Assessments (E.I.As) to examine the impact and identify necessary actions.

The new Equality Act 2010 has removed the requirement to complete these assessments. However, Surrey Police Authority continues to make  impact assessments of  key decisions to ensure that they do not adversely impact the community. 

Local Policing Plan Impact Assessment     

Police Priorities Impact Assessment        

Budget Impact Assessment

SPA Business Plan Impact Assessment        

Understanding the community we represent

If we are to successfully represent the whole community, we first need to understand what that community looks like.

In 2010 the Authority developed its first Community Profile of Surrey.  This document provided SPA with an effective benchmark to assess whether SPA was engaging with a genuinely representative cross-section of Surrey residents. The results of any consultation are feed into the strategic direction and priority setting process. This will ensure that decisions about the allocation of police resources are made fairly, efficiently and effectively. You can read our profile here.

Please note this profile is based on 2001 census data which is now dated. The document is now being superceded by Surrey-i (see below).

 Community Profile

Surrey-i

Surrey-i is a new local information system which allows residents and public bodies to access, compare and interpret data about our community, providing a level of insight over and above previous community profiles.

Surrey Police Authority, along with local councils and other public bodies are using Surrey-i to help understand the needs of local communities. This is essential when planning local services to meet both current and future needs. We believe that by consulting local people and using the evidence in Surrey-i to inform our decision making we will help make Surrey an even better place to live.

If you want to find out more information about your community please click here to be taken to the dedicated website.

You can also visit our Monitoring Surrey Police page by clicking here.

A workforce representative of the community it serves

The new public sector Equality Duty under the Act requires public bodies with 150 or more employees to publish data on their workforce and show how they considered how their activities as an employer affect people. Employer data from Surrey Police can be found here.

Listening to our communities

Surrey Police Authority consults regularly with local people through our Citizens’ Panel. Please click here to visit our dedicated page on consultation.

Independent Advisory Group (IAG)

The Surrey IAG was formed 2001 to provide advice and act as a ’critical friend’ to Surrey Police.  It has a key role in promoting community confidence by improving Surrey Police’s understanding of – and relations with - minority communities. Surrey Police Authority attend and support the IAG through our lead Members and officers. We regularly consult with the group especially when producing out Local Policing Plan. For more information on the IAG please click here.

Community Groups

We also work and speak to a variety of key forums. In particular we work close with Surrey Community Action, attending the Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities Relation Forum and Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum