Thank you so much to those who have signed my petition already. It’s likely friends and family, plus a few in their extended networks. If you’re new, please read my petition itself if you’re concerned by the end of this update.

I need you to understand and feel what I and other victims have felt, when asking Surrey Police for help.

I then need you to use that frustration / anger / disgust, to do something that will bring about change.

To help communicate my experience with Surrey Police, I would like to share the following incident that took place in Staines last year. It is an example of how Surrey Police often responds to the victims of crime, with the use of force, unlawful arrest and other inappropriate actions and then finds itself not guilty.

Be warned, the video shows an 11 month old calf being hit with a police car, several times.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c511ezjlmrro

Surrey Police investigated the incident

“The SIO has now completed their investigation and determined that while footage of the incident was distressing in nature, those involved in the incident acted within their duties, and the tactics adopted were both lawful and necessary to prevent harm to the public and property. As such, no further action will be taken in either the criminal investigation, or the internal misconduct matter.”

I know it may seem tenuous or distasteful to link a cow with victims of crime being mistreated by the police.

But. Like the 11 month old calf, victims of crime are understandably scared, confused, they don’t know which way to turn for help.

Sometimes that may be difficult for someone without the proper trauma informed training (or basic experience of cows) to understand.

But instead of engaging in empathy or attempting to communicate with each other or the victim to find out more information - Surrey Police charge in, using force or unlawful arrest as a way to take control.

Later, when questions are raised about their heavy handed tactics, their internal complaints department finds that they “acted appropriately and within the law”.

Victims however, carry that trauma with them for life, in addition to the mental and physical wounds caused by being a victim of crime as well.

Unsurprisingly, as Dame Baird found in her inquiry into Greater Manchester Police last year, victims of unlawful police mistreatment almost never take their cases to court. They’re scared of police retaliation, of the police sabotaging their own cases against their abusers in spite.. and they are just too tired, overwhelmed and lack the finances to support a civil court case.

It’s disgusting. These are the people entrusted to look after the safety and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable and traumatised in our community; adult and child victims of sexual assault, domestic abuse and violence. And Surrey Police are letting themselves off the hook, time and time again, leaving behind a wake of people who regret reaching out for help and aren’t being listened to.

If you made it this far, thank you, and please seriously consider sharing this petition everywhere you can.

Thank you.