In Surrey just 13% of victims are now getting justice for high harm crimes

Paul Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Surrey's next Police and Crime Commissioner, has described as "very worrying" the continuing decline in positive outcomes for victims of high harm crimes such as rape and serious sexual offences, domestic abuse, child abuse and hate crime. He praised the efforts of domestic abuse and other victims' organisations to highlight the issue.

Paul said: "The halving of positive outcomes for high harm crimes during the term of the current Police Commissioner is very worrying, and domestic abuse and other victims' charities are right to raise concerns.

This isn't just down to police cuts. Many of the problems are contributed to by delays and funding cuts in the courts and court services - going back well before the pandemic - which makes it harder to achieve and enforce convictions and court orders.

Surrey County Council's cuts and poor performance in support services for vulnerable people - adult social care, children's services (including closures of children's centres), youth, addiction, mental health and sexual health services - have also contributed.

The Police Commissioner is right to blame Conservative policies, but he needs to acknowledge that he was elected a Conservative and remained a Conservative, implementing Conservative policies, for at least the first 3 years of his term."