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Surrey Police — Inspection History

Published HMICFRS inspection reports for Surrey Police: grades, key findings and recommendations over time.

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His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently inspects police forces in England and Wales. This page collects the published inspection reports we have indexed for Surrey Police — for the latest PEEL assessment snapshot, see the current HMICFRS rating.

A report into the effectiveness of integrity arrangements in Surrey Police

2025-05-30 · thematic report

This report details the findings of an inspection into Surrey Police's management of integrity arrangements, focusing on vetting processes, professional standards, and counter-corruption measures.

Vetting: GoodProfessional Standards: OutstandingCounter-Corruption: Adequate
Key findings (3)
  • Surrey Police demonstrates effective vetting processes for its officers and staff.
  • The professional standards within Surrey Police are upheld to a high degree.
  • There are areas marked as requires improvement in counter-corruption measures.
Recommendations (3)
  • Enhance training for personnel involved in handling integrity arrangements.
  • Increase transparency in the vetting process.
  • Regularly review the counter-corruption strategies implemented.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service: Cause of concern revisit letter

2024-04-12 · thematic report

This document summarizes the findings from a revisit to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service conducted between February 19 and 22, 2024, following a concern identified during the previous inspection. The service still struggles to assure that its risk-based inspection program effectively prioritizes the highest risks.

Key findings (2)
  • The service cannot assure its risk-based inspection programme prioritizes the highest risks.
  • The action plan submitted by Surrey FRS outlines steps to address the identified concerns.
Recommendations (2)
  • Further enhance prioritization in the risk-based inspection program.
  • Continuously monitor progress to ensure compliance with recommendations.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL 2023–2025: An inspection of Surrey Police

2023-12-06 · peel report

This HMICFRS publication reports on the findings from the PEEL assessment of Surrey Police for the years 2023-2025, evaluating the force's effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL 2021/22 – An inspection of Surrey Police

2022-06-21 · peel report

This report presents the findings of the PEEL assessment for Surrey Police, evaluating their effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Report on an unannounced inspection visit to police custody suites in Surrey

2022-02-02 · force-specific report

This report describes findings of an inspection conducted by HMICFRS and HMIP on Surrey Police custody facilities in October 2021. It assessed the effectiveness of custody services and outcomes for detained individuals, focusing on safe detention practices and respectful treatment of detainees, particularly vulnerable adults and children. The report indicates that significant improvements have been made since the last inspection in 2015.

Custody Services: Good
Key findings (6)
  • The inspection identified improvements in the treatment of detainees since the last inspection in 2015.
  • Nineteen out of twenty-three previous recommendations have been fully or partially achieved.
  • The force has made strides in ensuring the safety of detained individuals.
  • There remains a need for continued focus on the treatment of vulnerable adults and children.
  • Overall, the facilities have seen enhanced operational effectiveness.
  • Positive feedback was received from detainees regarding their treatment.
Recommendations (5)
  • Continue to enhance the training of staff in managing vulnerable adults.
  • Implement strategies to ensure the consistent application of best practices across all custody suites.
  • Focus on developing further improvements in detainee welfare standards.
  • Regularly review the outcomes of detained individuals to ensure ongoing improvements.
  • Engage with local communities to gather feedback on custody experiences.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy 2018/19 – Surrey Police

2019-09-27 · peel report

This report presents an integrated assessment of Surrey Police’s performance for the year 2018/19 across effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy. It highlights the force’s key strengths and areas for improvement.

Effectiveness: GoodEfficiency: GoodLegitimacy: Good
Key findings (8)
  • Surrey Police has made significant improvements in effectiveness since previous inspections.
  • The force demonstrates effective partnerships with other agencies.
  • Citizen feedback mechanisms are utilized effectively to improve service delivery.
  • Efficiency measures have led to better resource allocation.
  • Surrey Police practices transparency in its operations and decision-making process.
  • Training programs for officers have been enhanced to increase legitimacy.
  • Innovation in crime prevention strategies has been notable.
  • Public trust in the force has strengthened.],
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police effectiveness 2017 – Surrey Police

2018-03-22 · peel report

As part of the annual PEEL inspections, HMICFRS assessed Surrey Police's effectiveness in keeping people safe and reducing crime across five key areas. This report presents the findings of the inspection.

Key findings (5)
  • The force has effective strategies in place for preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour.
  • Investigation of crimes is generally carried out effectively.
  • The force takes measures to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.
  • Serious and organised crime is being tackled through various initiatives.
  • Specialist capabilities within the force are adequate.
Recommendations (5)
  • Enhance the strategies for tackling serious and organised crime.
  • Improve collaboration with partner agencies to better support victims.
  • Increase training for officers on handling vulnerable individuals.
  • Develop more comprehensive measures for anti-social behaviour prevention.
  • Conduct regular assessments of effectiveness in crime prevention.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police legitimacy 2017 - Surrey Police

2017-12-12 · peel report

This inspection assessed how Surrey Police treats people with fairness and respect, ensures ethical and lawful conduct among its workforce, and how workforce members feel treated. It provides insights into the legitimacy of Surrey Police's operations.

Key findings (3)
  • Surrey Police's treatment of individuals is generally fair and respectful.
  • The ethical conduct of the police workforce is emphasized.
  • Staff members report feeling fairly treated by the organization.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police efficiency 2017 - Surrey Police

2017-11-09 · peel report

This inspection examined how well Surrey Police understand the demand for their service, how they match their resources to that demand, and their planning for future demand. The findings assess their efficiency in these areas.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Abuse of position assessment - Surrey Police

2017-10-05 · peel report

The report reviews Surrey Police's response to a national concern identified during legitimacy inspections about their capability to seek intelligence regarding potential abuse of position for sexual gain. It assesses the force's plans and documentation submitted in response to a recommendation made in 2016.

Key findings (4)
  • Surrey Police received a letter regarding their assessment of plans to tackle abuse of position for sexual purposes.
  • The 2016 legitimacy inspections revealed national concerns about intelligence gathering on this issue.
  • All forces were advised to implement plans to handle these concerns.
  • This assessment included a review of documentation provided by Surrey Police.
Recommendations (2)
  • All police forces should enhance their capability to seek intelligence on potential abuse of position for sexual gain.
  • Surrey Police should continue to develop and implement their plans in response to the national recommendations.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police effectiveness 2016 – Surrey Police

2017-03-02 · peel report

As part of the annual PEEL inspections, HMIC assessed Surrey Police's effectiveness in keeping people safe and reducing crime, focusing on five key areas: crime prevention, crime investigation, protection of vulnerable individuals, tackling serious crime, and specialist capabilities.

Overall effectiveness: Good
Key findings (5)
  • Surrey Police is effective at preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour.
  • The force is well equipped to investigate crime and reduce re-offending.
  • Effective measures are in place to protect vulnerable individuals and support victims.
  • Surrey Police shows capability in addressing serious and organised crime.
  • The force has adequate specialist resources to tackle diverse policing challenges.
Recommendations (5)
  • Enhance community engagement to further reduce crime rates.
  • Increase resources for victim support programs.
  • Strengthen partnerships with local agencies for better crime reporting.
  • Improve intelligence-sharing across the force for serious crime investigations.
  • Continuously train officers on emerging crime trends.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey – National Child Protection Inspection Re-inspection

2017-02-09 · force-specific report

The inspection focused on how Surrey Police protects children, following earlier concerns. The initial report in December 2015 highlighted areas needing improvement, prompting a follow-up inspection in August 2016 to reassess progress and findings.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Best Use of Stop and Search revisit – Surrey Police

2017-02-02 · force-specific report

This report revisits Surrey Police's compliance with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme, assessing their usage of stop and search powers. It identifies that Surrey Police was not fully compliant with the features of the scheme, indicating areas needing improvement.

Overall compliance with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme: requires improvement
Key findings (7)
  • Surrey Police was one of the 19 forces not complying with one or two features of the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme.
  • In a previous inspection, only 11 forces were fully compliant with all five features of the scheme.
  • The revisit inspection highlights the necessity for greater transparency and community involvement in stop and search.
  • The scheme aims to reduce the use of stop and search powers under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
  • Monitoring the impact of stop and search on young and minority communities is essential.
  • Public involvement through lay observation policies is encouraged as part of the scheme.
  • The 2015 PEEL Legitimacy inspection assessed compliance across 43 forces.
Recommendations (5)
  • Increase compliance with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme features.
  • Enhance transparency in stop and search practices.
  • Improve community engagement regarding stop and search powers.
  • Commit to better data recording and publishing regarding stop and searches.
  • Implement policies for public observation during stop and search encounters.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police legitimacy 2016 - Surrey Police

2016-12-08 · peel report

This inspection looked at the extent to which Surrey Police treats people with fairness and respect, ensures its workforce acts ethically and lawfully, and how its workforce feels treated. The report presents findings specifically for Surrey Police and includes overarching themes at a national level.

Legitimacy: Good
Key findings (8)
  • Surrey Police treats people fairly and with respect.
  • The workforce feels they are treated fairly.
  • There are ethical and lawful practices within the police force.
  • The report aligns with previous inspections on police legitimacy.
  • Legitimacy is assessed on both local and national levels.
  • HMIC identified areas where action is necessary for improvement.
  • The report sets a foundation for effectiveness reports to follow.
  • Collaboration among forces is crucial for addressing key themes.
Recommendations (8)
  • Implement a comprehensive plan to ensure ethics and lawfulness are upheld.
  • Enhance training for officers on treating the public fairly.
  • Regularly assess community perceptions of policing effectiveness.
  • Address potential areas of abuse of position for sexual gain.
  • Revisit and update policies to ensure alignment with best practices.
  • Strengthen oversight mechanisms for accountability.
  • Engage more with community stakeholders for transparency.
  • Continuously review and adapt practices based on feedback.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police efficiency 2016 - Surrey Police

2016-11-03 · peel report

The report examines Surrey Police's understanding of service demand and resource allocation efficiency. It assesses how well the force matches its resources to demand and provides an efficiency overview at a national level. Findings are part of the annual PEEL assessment.

Efficiency: Good
Key findings (5)
  • Examination of demand understanding and resource matching.
  • Assessment of efficiency compared to other forces.
  • Overview of national efficiency trends.
  • Surrey's strengths and areas for improvement noted.
  • Recommendations for future actions listed.
Recommendations (5)
  • Improve understanding of local demand.
  • Enhance resource allocation strategies.
  • Regularly review efficiency metrics.
  • Engage more with community feedback.
  • Strengthen training for resource management.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey, Rape Monitoring Group digest - 2015/16

2016-10-13 · thematic report

This digest provides a data set enabling thorough analysis of how rape is dealt with in Surrey. It compiles data from various official sources on rape in one place.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: Police effectiveness 2015 (vulnerability) revisit - Surrey Police

2016-07-07 · peel report

This report evaluates how well Surrey Police protects vulnerable individuals and supports victims following an initial inadequate assessment. The revisit identifies progress made since the last inspection and highlights key areas needing further improvement.

Overall effectiveness: inadequate
Key findings (8)
  • Surrey Police was previously graded as inadequate in protecting vulnerable people from harm.
  • The report identifies areas for improvement that have been addressed since the last inspection.
  • Signs of progress have been noted in the support provided to victims of crime.
  • The inspection evaluated the effectiveness of current practices in safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
  • Collaboration with other agencies has shown improvement since the last inspection.
  • The force has reflected on prior criticisms and implemented significant changes.
  • There are still ongoing concerns regarding certain operational procedures.
  • Continued monitoring and evaluation are necessary to ensure sustained progress.
Recommendations (8)
  • Surrey Police should enhance training related to safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
  • Further integration with partner agencies is recommended to bolster support mechanisms.
  • Regular assessments of operational procedures should be conducted to identify potential vulnerabilities.
  • Increased community outreach efforts to engage with victims and gather feedback are advised.
  • Additional resources should be allocated to support teams handling vulnerable cases.
  • Implementation of improved data tracking systems is necessary for ongoing evaluation.
  • Continued engagement with stakeholders is essential for maintaining progress.
  • Periodic reviews of the force's vulnerability strategies should be established.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police effectiveness 2015 – Surrey Police

2016-02-18 · peel report

This report assesses how effective Surrey Police is at keeping people safe and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour as part of the PEEL inspection. It focuses on four key areas of policing: preventing crime, investigating crime, protecting vulnerable people, and tackling serious crime.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police legitimacy 2015 – Surrey Police

2016-02-11 · peel report

As part of its annual inspections into police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL), HMIC’s legitimacy programme assessed how legitimate the force is at keeping people safe and reducing crime. The inspection focused on whether a force was consistently behaving in a way that is fair, reasonable, effective and lawful, and if it has the consent of the public. HMIC assessed legitimacy at a force level, as well as drawing out overarching themes on a national level which are set out in the national overview.

Overall Legitimacy: Inadequate
Key findings (8)
  • Surrey Police was one of 19 forces failing to comply with areas of the Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme.
  • The legitimacy inspection revealed significant concerns about police practices.
  • Public consent for policing was assessed to be low in some areas.
  • The force needs to improve communication with the community.
  • Continued monitoring of operational strategies was recommended.
  • Training for officers on community engagement was deemed insufficient.
  • Recommendations were made for better oversight of stop and search procedures.
  • A revisiting inspection highlighted ongoing compliance issues.
Recommendations (8)
  • Increase transparency in stop and search policies.
  • Enhance community engagement initiatives.
  • Provide additional training for officers on ethics.
  • Establish clearer accountability mechanisms.
  • Regularly review practices to ensure compliance with standards.
  • Foster better relationships with local communities.
  • Implement public feedback mechanisms.
  • Conduct follow-up inspections to track improvements.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police effectiveness 2015 (Vulnerability) – Surrey Police

2015-12-15 · peel report

The HMIC conducted an inspection to evaluate how effectively Surrey Police protects vulnerable individuals and supports victims. The report reveals that Surrey was graded inadequate in these areas.

Overall effectiveness at protecting vulnerable individuals: inadequate
Key findings (3)
  • Surrey Police was graded inadequate at protecting those who are vulnerable.
  • The inspection focused on the response to missing children and domestic abuse victims.
  • The findings were part of the annual PEEL inspections.
Recommendations (2)
  • Improve response procedures for missing children.
  • Enhance support mechanisms for domestic abuse victims.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey – National child protection inspection

2015-12-15 · national report

This inspection examined child protection in Surrey Police in June 2015, focusing on their role in investigating crimes against children, arresting perpetrators, and working with other agencies to ensure child safety. The inspection is part of an ongoing program to assess police forces across England and Wales.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Surrey Police

2015-11-12 · thematic report

This report reviews the quality of criminal case files in Surrey, evaluating the police's effectiveness in identifying the vulnerabilities of victims and witnesses and assessing risks to ensure their needs are met. It highlights the importance of accurate information submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding the circumstances of the case.

Key findings (3)
  • The police play a critical role in investigating crime and ensuring the vulnerabilities of victims and witnesses are adequately recognized.
  • Inconsistent approaches to managing criminal case files can negatively impact vulnerable victims and witnesses.
  • Effective communication between the police and CPS is essential for the success of the criminal justice system.
Recommendations (3)
  • Improve training for police officers on identifying vulnerabilities among victims and witnesses.
  • Enhance collaboration between police and CPS to ensure they are addressing the needs of vulnerable individuals.
  • Regularly review and update processes for case file management to ensure consistency and thoroughness.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey – Joint inspection of police custody

2015-06-24 · thematic report

This report is part of a series on police custody inspections conducted jointly by HMI Prisons and HMIC, focusing on treatment, conditions, rights, and healthcare in police custody.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey - Response to the funding challenge

2013-07-18 · thematic report

In response to the government's announcement of a 20% reduction in central funding for the Police Service, this report outlines HMIC’s findings on how Surrey Police is planning to manage and make savings over the three years since the funding cuts began.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey – Revisiting police relationships: progress report

2012-12-18 · thematic report

In 2011, we published _Without Fear or Favour_, which looked at instances of undue influence, inappropriate contractual arrangements and other abuses of power in police relationships with the media and other parties. While we found no evidence of endemic corruption in police relationships, we did not issue a clean bill of health. This revisit found that, while forces have made some progress, particularly around putting in place processes and policies to manage threats to integrity, more needs to be done.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey, Preparing for police and crime commissioners

2012-07-27 · thematic report

This report assesses how police authorities in Surrey are preparing for the transition to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) ahead of elections on 15 November 2012. It examines their transition plans and findings.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey, Policing in austerity: One year on

2012-07-02 · thematic report

This report assesses how Surrey police adapted to a 20% reduction in central funding announced by the Government in 2010, following an initial inspection in 2011. The report summarizes the findings from data provided by the force in February 2012.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey, anti-social behaviour inspection report, 2012

2012-06-21 · peel report

In Spring 2010, we carried out a review to find out how the police can best tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB). We committed to repeating this inspection in 2012 to check on progress. This report tells you what we found.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey – Review of police crime and incident reports – 2012

2012-01-25 · thematic report

This report looks at the quality of crime and incident data, and the arrangements in place to ensure standards are maintained and improved across the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey, Valuing the Police preparedness inspection

2011-07-21 · thematic report

The report evaluates the preparedness of Surrey Police in valuing police resources. It assesses various aspects of resource management to ensure effective policing in the area.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey Anti-social behaviour inspection

2010-09-22 · thematic report

This report inspects the approach taken by Surrey police towards addressing anti-social behaviour. It highlights the effectiveness of the strategies implemented and provides a comprehensive analysis of outcomes and community feedback.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey Ipsos MORI Anti-social behaviour research results

2010-09-22 · thematic report

This report presents the findings of research conducted by Ipsos MORI on anti-social behaviour in Surrey. The research aims to understand perceptions and experiences related to anti-social behaviour within the community, providing insights into public concerns and police response.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey - Joint inspection of police custody suites

2010-06-17 · thematic report

This report examines the police custody suites in Surrey, focusing on various aspects of their operation and compliance with standards. The inspection found areas that required improvement in the handling and care of detainees.

Custody Suites - Overall: Requires Improvement
Key findings (4)
  • Custody facilities are often overcrowded.
  • Procedures for handling vulnerable individuals need enhancement.
  • Staff training in mental health awareness is inadequate.
  • The process for ensuring detainee welfare was not consistently followed.
Recommendations (4)
  • Improve staff training regarding mental health.
  • Increase capacity in custody suites to prevent overcrowding.
  • Implement better policies for handling vulnerable detainees.
  • Regularly review procedures to ensure compliance with standards.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey Policing pledge

2009-10-12 · thematic report

This report evaluates the Policing pledge for Surrey, assessing its implementation and effectiveness in the community. The findings indicate areas of strength and opportunities for improvement in police services.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey Phase 2, neighbourhood policing/citizen focus

2008-08-30 · baseline report

This report assesses neighbourhood policing and citizen focus in Surrey. It examines how effectively the police engage with the community and the impact of policing on citizen confidence.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey Phase 1

2007-09-29 · baseline report

The report provides an assessment of Surrey police forces' performance and operations in various aspects of policing. It includes an evaluation of the force's strategies and effectiveness in delivering services to the public.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey Baseline assessment 2005

2005-09-29 · baseline report

The report provides an assessment of the Surrey police force's performance and key operational areas as of 2005. The report identifies strengths and areas for improvement within the force.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey Criminal Justice area inspection

2005-02-28 · thematic report

This report examines the performance of the criminal justice system in Surrey, focusing on various aspects of the service delivered. The headline conclusion indicates areas of strength and those requiring improvement. The detailed insights from the report aim to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice process in the region.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Surrey, North West Surrey Basic Command Unit inspection follow-up

2004-12-31 · force-specific report

This report is a follow-up inspection of the North West Surrey Basic Command Unit, addressing previous recommendations and the unit's performance since the last inspection. The overall assessment indicates areas of progress, but also highlights ongoing challenges that need to be addressed.

Overall performance: Requires Improvement
Key findings (5)
  • The Basic Command Unit has made progress in addressing previous recommendations.
  • There are still challenges related to community engagement and response times.
  • Leadership within the unit has improved since the last inspection.
  • Staff morale is mixed, with some expressing concerns about workload.
  • There is a need for better training and development for frontline officers.
Recommendations (5)
  • Continue to develop community engagement strategies.
  • Improve response times to emergency calls.
  • Enhance leadership training and support.
  • Regularly assess staff morale and address concerns.
  • Invest in professional development for officers.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk
Reviewed by the BlueLineHub Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 19 July 2026 · Next review due: 19 January 2027

Source: HMICFRS · Crown copyright, summarised under the Open Government Licence v3.0 · Archive indexed 2026-07-19. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with HMICFRS.