A POLICE pledge to be “more visible and engaged” with the town was made by Waverley borough commander Inspector Gary Smith.

Insp Smith, who heads the borough’s specialist neighbourhood team, attended the last Haslemere Town Council’s full council meeting to give an update and answer questions.

A key priority for the year ahead, he said, was for an officer to attend each full council meeting to keep residents informed about any issues of concern.

The Haslemere, Grayswood and Chiddingfold team, which comprises sergeant Andy Crane, constable Will Davies and police community support officers Davina Smith and Amy Champion-Smith, will also be “going back into schools” and attending more public events.

Insp Smith is keen to give residents more opportunities to meet his team directly, following the closure of the police “front counter” at Waverley Borough Council offices, which means residents must now go to Guildford for one-to-one sessions.

He assured councillors, however, his officers still used the police Wey Hill base as a base to “work out from”.

Responding to recent statistics revealing Haslemere and Godalming station car parks were ranked fourth and fifth for the highest number of vehicle thefts in 2018/19, Insp Smith promised to work more closely with British Transport Police to try and prevent crime.

He also welcomed the town council’s decision to install CCTV and promised the police would pass on what would be the “best positions” to cut crime.

Cllr Kirsten Ellis asked if more thieves were now using keyless technology to steal vehicles, but Insp Smith said leaving vehicles unlocked was the biggest factor.

“We had a spate of thieves chancing their arm in Cranleigh,” he said.

“There were 26 thefts and not one was broken into. All were left unlocked.”