In 2005, as a child, I was attacked by my father. My sister, terrified, called the police. But instead of help, I—the victim—was threatened with arrest.

Nearly two decades later, facing another terrifying incident in 2024, I realised nothing had changed. Surrey Police still mishandle domestic abuse, still criminalise victims, and still fail to understand or apply the law properly.

Here are some quick facts:

Surrey has one of the lowest crime rates in the UK, yet Surrey Police receive nearly double the number of complaints (per 1000 people) compared to the average.

When those complaints go to the IOPC (the independent body which reviews complaints about the police) in 50% of them, they find the police have a case to answer for.

If we have lower crime rates, why are the police failing so much more than their busier counterparts?

Rather than offer support, Surrey Police routinely funnel cries for help into a complaints system designed to delay, confuse, and deflect. Victims are forced to navigate a maze of forms, silence, and gaslighting. It’s not just neglect—it’s a system engineered to protect the institution, not the people.

We demand:

Specialist training in trauma-informed, survivor-focused domestic abuse response.

An independent oversight mechanism to handle and audit complaints about police misconduct—beyond the current internal system.

A legally binding duty of transparency and accountability, with penalties for officers and leadership who fail to uphold it.

Surrey deserves better. Survivors deserve better.

Join us in demanding real reform. Sign the petition, share it widely, and help build a police force that protects victims instead of punishing them when they ask for help.

If you’re in need of help now: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

Further reading:

Dame Vera Baird’s Inquiry Report (Manchester and Metro police specific but unfortunately widespread here too) - https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/media/9861/the-baird-inquiry.pdf

Centre For Women’s Justice - Stop Crimalising Survivors (the video is distressing) - https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/stop-criminalising

Data and stats to support this petition

Surrey has one of the lowest rates of crime in the country (around 52 crimes per 1,000 residents, vs ~92 nationally)

Despite this low rate of crime, in Surrey, over five complaints are made per officer. Nationally? Just slightly over three.

Surrey Police get two more complaints made per officer each year than their counterparts in the rest of the country, who are dealing with more crime.

If those complaints are serious enough to accepted by the independent police complaints watchdog, Surrey Police is far more likely to be in the wrong.

What does this all mean?

It means the anecdotes on Facebook, on SurreyLive, the awful stories you hear on the news about the police aren't just the exception or someone with an axe to grind. These are real people, who have suffered at the hands of the failing system, trying to reach out for help.

The petition in front of you now is fighting for something that’s real. A problem that has affected real people, in unimaginable ways, causing life long problems for them, their families and the community as a whole.

It needs fixing. It needs fixing right now.

So please, please please sign this petition.