Surrey News
Cabinet member for communities
Trading Standards investigation leads to three year sentence for fraudsters
A fraudster and his accomplice have both received prison sentences after being found guilty of scamming residents as unqualified roofers, following a Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards investigation. James Smith (28, Cranleigh, Surrey) and Timothy Draper Smith (52, Staines) were trading as James Gutters and Roofing Ltd between August 2017 and February 2019. Over this … Continue reading
Covid-19 inspection report praises Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service was inspected by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in September 2020, regarding the way in which they responded to the Covid-19 pandemic; the findings have been published today. The service summarised HMICFRS’s findings as: The service – was able to make an effective initial … Continue reading
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service welcomes 12 new firefighters
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) welcomed 12 new firefighters into the service last month. Out of the group, 10 are wholetime and two on-call. The group of wholetime have completed their 14-week training which started on Monday 14 September. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the pass out parade has been postponed and will be … Continue reading
Surrey Schools scammed by subscription traps
Several Surrey schools have been scammed by subscription traps locking them into costly repeat payments after appearing ‘free’. Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards are warning residents, business and other organisations not to fall victim to online subscription traps after the schools lost out on over several hundred pounds each. Subscription traps take place when you … Continue reading
Don’t let the cold (callers) in your home this winter
Doorstep scams increase during the winter periods, with over a third of all reported incidents occurring during the months of January to March. This is due to bogus callers and rogue traders taking advantage of our need for a safe, warm and dry home during the bad weather. When rain, sleet or snow sets in … Continue reading
Trainee Firefighters ‘Cycling home for Christmas’ in aid of charity
Surrey Fire and Rescue Services (SFRS) new firefighter recruits will be cycling the distance between the service’s Headquarters and their homes on Wednesday 16 December, in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity. The Santa-suit clad group of 10 will be cycling home for Christmas to an equivalent of 543 miles on indoor bikes. Their fantastic … Continue reading
Fire service and Trading Standards safety plea to Surrey residents ahead of Hallowe’en and bonfire night
With so many organised firework displays cancelled this year due to COVID-19, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards are reminding residents to be safe and consider others. During October to November 2019, SFRS attended one firework related call and eight false alarms regarding bonfires being misconstrued as house fires. … Continue reading
Surrey to focus on more local community-led sporting events
The future of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey cycling event continuing in Surrey beyond 2021 will be decided by Cabinet on 27 October. It is proposed in the report that Surrey will not take up the option to support this event for a further five years and will instead support, as previously agreed, the reduced 2021 Prudential … Continue reading
Five new firefighters graduate in Surrey
The latest group of new recruits have celebrated passing their training with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) this week. A special graduation ceremony was held on Sunday 27 September at the service’s headquarters in Reigate, with family, friends and others able to watch virtually via Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s official Facebook page. Firefighters … Continue reading
Trading Standards investigation leads to 18-month sentence for locksmith fraudster
A fraudster who made £11,562 after scamming vulnerable Surrey residents as an unqualified locksmith has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Shaun Phasey (49) of Staines was trading as SP Locks and 24/7 Emergency Locksmith Services over a nine-month period. He quoted and subsequently completed work for five residents who paid via a chip … Continue reading
Doorstep crime on the rise as lockdown is relaxed
Doorstep fraud – conning residents out of their life savings – is rising as lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted. Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards have already seen an increase in rogue traders targeting older adults using tactics such as befriending, religious affiliation, pressure and even aggression to extort money. This month an Epsom resident … Continue reading
Recycling company fined £30,000 after fire at Surrey plant
A recycling company has been fined following an explosion and fire at their site in Surrey which left a worker in an induced coma. Ereco EMEA Corporation Ltd, of Lewes Road, East Sussex, was fined £30,000 following a joint investigation by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and the Health and Safety Executive. It was also … Continue reading
IN PICTURES: Surrey History Centre archive chronicles real people and events behind new Journey’s End film
A treasure trove of letters and photos chronicling the real people and events behind the major new British film Journey’s End is accessible to everyone through the Surrey History Centre. The archive documents the life of RC Sherriff, who drew on his experiences serving in the First World War to write the renowned 1920s play … Continue reading
Prudential RideLondon raises record £12.75 million for charity in 2017
The organisers of Prudential RideLondon have announced that riders in the 2017 events raised £12.75 million for charity to set a new European record for a cycling event, beating the previous record of £12 million. It means cyclists have raised more than £53 million for charity over the first five years of the cycling festival. … Continue reading
Trading standards impounds 2,600 fake Fingerling toys
Surrey trading standards officers have impounded 2,600 fake Fingerling toys brought in from China through Heathrow Airport. They barred the toys from entering the UK because they lacked crucial paperwork proving the products met safety standards and failed to include contact details for the manufacturer. Fingerlings – robotic animals such as monkeys and unicorns which … Continue reading
