Surrey News
Cabinet member for communities
Parade celebrating 34 firefighters who joined during the pandemic
On Sunday (25 July) Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) hosted a pass out parade for the 34 firefighters from five recruitment courses who joined the service during the pandemic. The recruits, who are currently serving across 18 of 25 Surrey fire stations, were not able to celebrate starting their new careers due to COVID-19. … Continue reading
Surrey County Council launches The Surrey Nature Explorer Passport for children
Surrey County Council has launched The Surrey Nature Explorer Passport for children ahead of the summer holidays. The Surrey Nature Explorer Passport holds captivating adventures that encourages families and children to explore our beautiful countryside and amazing libraries with a chance to win exciting prizes. Designed to offer a fun way for children aged 4 … Continue reading
Surrey County Council given ‘Gold’ award for services supporting armed forces
Surrey County Council (SCC) has been reaffirmed as a Ministry of Defence Gold Employers Recognition Scheme Award holder for their outstanding commitment and support to the Armed Forces Community. The county council has over 750 members of staff who have previously served in the armed forces, 28 reservists as well as a number of Cadet … Continue reading
Surrey County Council to support The Big Lunch
Surrey County Council is supporting the Eden Project’s ‘The Big Lunch’ this year. Running since 2009, The Big Lunch aims to bring people together with their communities and neighbours to meet, chat and have fun, annually fundraising £8m for local causes they care about. Over six million people take part every year, creating and strengthening … Continue reading
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
