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
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 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
Fraudsters have been buying fake NHS and care provider lanyards so they can attempt to enter the homes of vulnerable people, Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards has warned. Officers have advised residents to never let anyone they’re not expecting or don’t recognise into their home – check first with the caller’s employer either by ringing … Continue reading
Surrey County Council have announced a £100k contribution towards the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS) to supplement their Coronavirus Response Fund that offers support of up to £5k to smaller charities and voluntary bodies. Already more than £350k in emergency funding to help our most vulnerable residents has been distributed by The Community Foundation for … Continue reading
Cowboy builders have been jailed after causing major damage to the home of an elderly couple in Worcester Park and quoting £300,000 for unnecessary repairs. Thomas William Penfold, Managing Director of P&T Property Services Limited, was convicted of fraudulent trading and money laundering. He was handed immediate custodial sentences of four years and three years … Continue reading
A new fire station – Fordbridge – opened in Spelthorne this week. Fordbridge is in an optimal location and replaces Staines and Sunbury fire stations. The station is contemporary, efficient and has training facilities that meet the needs of 21st century firefighters.
24 new full-time firefighters graduated from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service today. Fire and Rescue Service recruits showcased their skills at a ‘passing out parade’ after completing 13 weeks of training. A series of demonstrations including tackling a fire, performing a rescue from a third floor window and dealing with a road traffic collision took … Continue reading
A boss who defrauded elderly people to fund a lavish lifestyle has been jailed for three years, after a prosecution by trading standards. Adam Craig Roberts, 34, from Bournemouth pleaded guilty to fraudulently misleading often elderly people across the south of England to encourage them to buy home insulation. He was sentenced at Guildford Crown … Continue reading
More than 60 projects in Surrey have now been awarded more than £3.8 million in capital funding by The London Marathon Charitable Trust in the first six years as a direct benefit of the Prudential RideLondon festival of cycling. Denise Turner-Stewart, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Fire and Resilience, said: “I am … Continue reading
Surrey and Buckinghamshire’s trading standards service has celebrated forging partnerships with 100 businesses to help them thrive. The service welcomed Squire’s Garden Centres as the 100th firm to join its scheme to cut red tape for businesses, supporting them to grow and provide excellent service to customers. To mark the milestone, trading standards officers teamed … Continue reading
Steve Owen-Hughes has been appointed Chief Fire Officer for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. Mr Owen-Hughes (pictured right) joined the service in 2010 as Assistant Chief Fire Officer and has been acting in the role of chief for the past few months. He said: “It’s a great honour to have been appointed to serve Surrey … Continue reading
A skip hire boss who pressured customers into paying extra charges for skips to be removed from outside their homes has been ordered to pay fines and court costs of more than £30,000. Brian Place, director of 1st Place Grab & Skip Hire Ltd, was sentenced by Guildford magistrates for using aggressive commercial practices after … Continue reading
A doorstep rogue trader has been jailed after conning a retired Surrey teacher with excessive charges for substandard work to her house and garden. Tom Watson was jailed for two years for running a fraudulent business following a prosecution brought by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards. He was handed a further four years’ imprisonment for … Continue reading
New fire service recruits showcased their skills at a passing out parade after completing 13 weeks of training. Twenty-four recruits demonstrated what they’ve learned during the first Surrey and Sussex “tri-service” course for full-time firefighters. The fire services in Surrey, East and West Sussex joined forces to run the intensive course which began in January … Continue reading