Local News

Between the 26th and 30th May 2026, Runnymede Officers conducted an operation tackling shoplifting in Egham. We worked alongside officers from the Metropolitan Police, store detectives and staff from several shops in the town centre. The 3-day operation resulted in the following: 

12 Out of Court disposals - these are a mixture of community resolutions

3 Arrests

4 Stop searches

3 Persons identified for other offences

PC Campbell, the neighbourhood Specialist Officer for Egham said, "The operation was a success, and we managed to get some good results.  We arrested three well-known shoplifters who are involved in bulk level shoplifting and have managed to deter many others. Many people think that shoplifting is a victimless crime and doesn't affect them; this isn't the case. The value of items stolen gets recuperated by the stores, by raising the price of items for the consumer. This then has an impact on the vast majority of law-abiding members of the public who do pay for their items." Also, we know that shoplifting has a direct link to other offences such as drugs use by selling on the stolen items to get money to support their habit. We will continue to target shoplifting and making sure that people who come into the area of Egham know that it isn't an easy area to commit shoplifting, and offenders will be dealt with robustly.

Two men were arrested following warrants in Chertsey and Woking on 10 June. Officers carried out a warrant at an address in Hardwick Lane, Chertsey. A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. At the same time, Officers also carried out a warrant at an address in Balfour Avenue, Woking. A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs. Both men remain in police custody while enquiries continue. Investigating officer DC Laura Thompson said: "You may have seen an increased police presence in the Hardwick Lane and Balfour Avenue areas today while officers carried out these warrants as part of an ongoing investigation. “We remain committed to carrying out proactive enquiries into suspected drug-related activity and taking action where appropriate. Our investigation remains ongoing.” 

With the football World Cup now in full swing, our Runnymede Officers and PCSOs were conducting foot patrols around the area of Englefield Green last week. They took the opportunity to engage with some youngsters from Englefield Green Cricket Club, having a kickabout, followed by a penalty shootout. PC Campbell ended up winning the shootout, with PCSO Tilson pulling a hamstring and PCSO Morgan skying his penalty and it last being sighted travelling somewhere between Pluto and Neptune! We heard they could've gone pro, but their hearts are in policing.  

PC Campbell said: "This was a fun and engaging event which I intend to continue. By doing events like this it helps build trust as well as allowing the public to see past the uniform and foster fun and lasting memories. I am looking forward to our next kick about, and hopefully the ball PCSO Morgan kicked will be located."

Officers from Runnymede SNT swapped patrol cars for rollercoasters at Thorpe Park as part of the MerlinWeCare event, joining colleagues from Southeast Ambulance Service to offer safety and showcase lifesaving skills! PC Michaela and Paramedic Lou quite literally rose to the occasion, taking things to new heights to keep a watchful eye over the day. From ground level to skyline, safety was always the priority even if a few screams suggested otherwise. A fantastic day of partnership working, community spirit, and just a little bit of adrenaline. 

Four people have been sentenced for county lines drugs operation. A county drugs line known as "Giant", which supplied crack cocaine and heroin across Eastern Surrey, West Sussex, Kent and South London, has been dismantled after all four defendants involved in its operation were sentenced. The investigation began in May 2025 when officers uncovered messages relating to the operation during an unrelated drugs enquiry. What initially appeared to be a handful of messages soon revealed something far larger – a county drugs line operating across multiple force areas. Officers from Centurion, the dedicated Surrey and Sussex Police team tackling county lines drug activity, joined forces with Surrey Police's Eastern Proactive Investigation Team to identify those behind the line and build a detailed picture of how it operated. Analysis of mobile phone data quickly became central to the investigation. A drugs expert examining the phone line identified bulk marketing messages being sent to users advertising the availability of Class A drugs. Messages including "LIVE DELIVERY GIANT" and "GIANT FAT SIZES DELIVERIES" provided investigators with early evidence of the line's activity and reach. As officers worked backwards from the phone data, they identified Kenan Mitchell, 28 (DOB: 27/10/1997) from Kent, as a key figure within the network. Investigators established that he was linked to four separate mobile phone numbers, while analysis of his personal device revealed videos depicting large quantities of cash, expensive watches and aspects of a lavish lifestyle. The investigation then uncovered significant links between Mitchell and Bridget Doherty, 24 (DOB:21/05/2002) from Essex. Analysis of phone data revealed Mitchell and Doherty played closely linked roles in the operation of the Giant line. As officers continued to unravel the network, two more individuals were linked to the operation. Jaipaul Johnson, 20 (DOB: 16/11/2005) and Amish Patel, 43 (DOB: 29/07/1982) both from Crawley, were identified after purchasing phone top-ups for the drugs line. Messages showed users arranging drug deals through the line, with locations then being relayed directly to Johnson, providing further evidence of his role in the operation. Meanwhile, further data revealed Patel accompanying Johnson on journeys to London to meet with Mitchell.  As the investigation gathered pace, officers steadily cut the Giant line down to size, identifying those responsible and building the evidence needed to secure warrants. When Johnson was arrested, he was found in possession of 147 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin, £370 in cash and several mobile phones. Searches carried out at Doherty's address, where both Doherty and Mitchell were arrested, uncovered 18.2g of cocaine and the main Giant line phone. Further searches of addresses linked to Mitchell uncovered between £20,000 and £30,000 in cash, 88.8g of cocaine and multiple mobile phones. Officers also recovered scales, snap bags and handwritten telephone numbers consistent with drug supply activity. A search of Patel's address resulted in officers recovering his mobile phone, scales, a quantity of cocaine, a crossbow and a knuckle duster. Investigating officer PC Geordie Logan said: "This was an extremely complex investigation involving months of detailed phone analysis, intelligence development and proactive policing activity. "The defendants played significant roles in a county drugs line responsible for supplying crack cocaine and heroin across multiple counties. The harm caused by Class A drugs extends far beyond those selling and using them; it impacts entire communities. Through the collaboration between teams and partner forces, we were able to identify those responsible, dismantle the line and bring those involved before the courts. "We remain committed to tackling county drugs lines and would encourage anyone with concerns about drug dealing in their community to report it to us." The group were sentenced on 3 June at Guildford Crown Court as follows:

Kenan Mitchell, 28 (DOB: 27/10/1997) from Kent was sentenced to six years and nine months' imprisonment.

Bridget Doherty, 24 (DOB:21/05/2002) from Essex received a 16-month suspended sentence over 24 months.

Jaipaul Johnson, 20 (DOB: 16/11/2005) from Crawley was sentenced to seven years and two months' imprisonment.

Amish Patel, 43 (DOB: 29/07/1982) from Crawley was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment

A former police constable in the Metropolitan Police Service has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice. Benjamin Whitcher, 31, was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on 11 June after admitting he lied having been caught speeding on three separate occasions. He will also be disqualified from driving for six months after serving his prison sentence. Whitcher was first caught on camera for two separate speeding offences on the M3 in Sunbury back in April 2021. When contacted, he tried to claim that it wasn't him on both occasions. Whitcher was then caught speeding again the following month, in May 2021, and again tried to claim someone else had been using the car at the time. Whitcher, (DOB 19/06/1993) of Basingstoke, resigned from the Metropolitan Police Service ahead of a misconduct hearing in November 2025, which found he would have been dismissed if he had still been serving.