Surrey Police

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**Surrey Police**
Coverage

Area	Surrey
Size	1,663 km²
Population	1,067,200
Operations
Formed	1st January, 1851
HQ	Mount Browne, Guildford
Officers	2,000
4 Divisions
Stations
Chief Constable	Bob Quick

Website	http://www.surrey.police.uk/

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.

Contents

1 History
2 Today

2.1 Surrey Police Museum

3 Proposed Merger with Sussex Police
4 See also
5 External links

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

The number of police forces in England and Wales will be cut from 43 to 24 under controversial merger plans.

Proposals made by the Home Secretary on March 20, 2006 would see the force merged with Sussex Police to form a strategic police force for the area. [link]

Police authorities have until 7 April, 2006 to respond to plans.

On Tuesday, 11 April 2006, the Home Secretary has confirmed Surrey Police and Sussex Police will merge by 2008.

Police force mergers called off. Wednesday 12th July 2006, A government minster says police merger plans, involving the Surrey and Sussex forces, have been abandoned.

External links

[Surrey police homepage]

Police forces in the United Kingdom