Surrey Police
Template:Infobox UK Police Surrey Police is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the county of Surrey in the south of England.
The force is lead by Chief Constable Bob Quick, and has its headquarters at Mount Browne, Guildford, Surrey. The motto of the force is 'With you, making Surrey safer' which reflects in Surrey's low crime rating.
History
On January 1, 1851, the Surrey Constabulary began its policing of the county with a total of 70 officers, the youngest of whom was 14 years old. The first Chief Constable was H. C. Hastings, who served in this capacity for 48 years. Originally Guildford, Reigate and Godalming had separate borough police forces. Reigate and Guildford were merged into Surrey in 1943, during the Second World War.
Today
Part of the present force area was originally part of the Metropolitan Police District, and was only transferred to the control of Surrey Police from the Metropolitan Police in 2000. Surrey Police is now divided into four divisions policed by 2000 police officers. Surrey Police has one of the lowest crime rate in England and Wales.
Surrey Police is also one of the first police force initiated IPLDP (Initial Police Learning and Development Program). Police force in the UK is now responsible for training their own recruits. In April 2006, Surrey Police officially launched IPLDP attended by other UK police force representatives.
Surrey Police Museum
To help celebrate its 150th anniversary, a museum portraying the history of the Force was opened at Mount Browne, the Surrey Police's headquarters in Guildford. Surrey resident Sir Michael Caine, CBE, took a break from filming his latest movie to officially open the doors to the museum on 22nd October, 2001. Months of hard work went into the development of the museum. Displays include a reconstructed lock-up (an old-fashioned holding cell for drunks and criminals), an audio representation of the policing of the Guildford riots and World War I, artefacts and touch-screen technology, all tracing the history of the Force up to the present day.
Proposed Merger with Sussex Police
Under controversial merger plans announced by the Home Secretary in 2006, the number of police forces in England and Wales would have been cut from 43 to 24. Proposals put forward on March 20, 2006 would have seen the Surrey force merged with Sussex Police to form a single strategic police force for the area.[1]
Police authorities had until April 7, 2006 to respond to the plans; the Home Secretary then announced on Tuesday April 11 2006 that Surrey Police and Sussex Police would merge by 2008. However, on Wednesday July 12 2006, a Government minister announced that all proposed police merger plans in England and Wales had been put on "long-term hold."
See also
- List of police forces in the United Kingdom
- Policing in the United Kingdom
- Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
- South East Coast Ambulance Service