Analysis of Home Office data for 2025 shows that Surrey Police recorded 3,045 burglaries last year. Yet only 6.4% of cases resulted in a charge or summons, while in nearly three-quarters of cases (74.6%), no suspect was identified. 

The figures mean that more than nine in ten burglaries did not result in anyone being charged. 

Woking MP, Will Forster, has called for urgent action to restore neighbourhood policing and back a "Burglary Response Guarantee" that would ensure every burglary is attended and properly investigated. 

Will Forster MP said: 

"It is unacceptable that families and businesses across Surrey are being left to fend for themselves while the vast majority of burglaries go unsolved. 

"In more than 93% of cases, victims never see someone charged. Surrey Police officers work incredibly hard, but they need the resources and support to ensure every burglary is properly investigated. 

"People deserve to feel safe in their homes and businesses. That's why I'm calling on the Government to restore neighbourhood policing and guarantee that every burglary receives a proper police response." 

ENDS 
 

Notes to Editors: 

13,936 cases resulted in a charge, 223,194 total = 6.24% 

160,396 no suspect identified, 223,194 total = 71.86% 

2025 the Home Office figures: Crime Charge Statistics by E&W Police Force . 

Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster, warned Labour Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, that his devolution plan risks a left-behind Britain, leaving Woking - and the rest of Surrey -without a Metro Mayor.  

The Liberal Democrats have long called for a proper shifting of power away from Whitehall, and into communities, but Woking MP, Will Forster, raised urgent concerns that new plans to give areas with a Metro Mayor millions of pounds more in funding will deepen divides.  

Will Forster says that Woking, in its new West Surrey Council, has been given no timeline, no funding, and no guarantee that it will see the powers London and Manchester have been given. 

The creation of West Surrey Council will inherit a debt of £4.5 billion, yet Labour has failed to give the extra powers or money to help. Labour says this will save money; but despite Will Forster repeatedly asking the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government how much money reorganisation saves, the government has failed to come up with a figure for Surrey, or the rest of the country. 

Government figures already show that areas with a Metro Mayor get millions more in cash. As things currently stand, areas with Metro Mayors receive over nine times as much funding than normal local authorities. That’s a gap of up to £2.26 million, compared with £250,000, for basic administration.  

Burnham's devo deal means Woking could also miss out on: 

• an estimated £27 million a year in investment funding. West Surrey is not in the Devolution Priority Programme. 

• the chance to be considered for the £500 million Revolving Growth Fund, reserved for Metro Mayors.  

• over £200 million per year in total between 2026/27 and 2029/30 from the Local Growth Fund; this will go only to Metro Mayors. 

• a single integrated funding settlement, giving local leaders the flexibility to invest in transport, housing, skills and economic growth without the instability of bidding every year to central government. 

Also, areas in the Devolution Priority Programme, designed to bring a form of devolution to more areas across England, announced by the Government last year, receive investment fund allocations of between £11 million and £44 million per year. With such stark gaps, one begins to question the sincerity of the new Prime Minister’s policies. 

Metro Mayors across England also hold exclusive access to additional powers that would widen the gaps between those who have a Metro Mayor, and Burnham’s left behind Britain. These powers mean regions with a Metro Mayor get exclusive ways to keep money in the area it is raised, funding public transport, infrastructure improvements and more cash for local business growth. This means areas without a Metro Mayor are left even further behind. 

Woking’s Lib Dem MP, Will Forster, said: 

“I want to see more power in our local communities, but these plans from Andy Burnham risk increasing the divide in the country. As a former Metro Mayor, he should know better. 

“The Government’s own stats show that areas without a Mayor get way less than those with a Mayor – Woking is set to lose out on millions of pounds of funding. We are saddled with billions of Conservative debt, and the new council will struggle to cope with that without extra money from the government. 

“I've pushed repeatedly for debt relief for Woking, but we are still in the mire. Labour say they want to standardise local government but without these extra powers and money, Labour is making two kinds of councils. Ones with, and ones without. Ultimately, Woking is missing out.” 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors: 

• Constituency data on Strategic Authority Mayors:[Data] Strategic Mayoral Authorities 

• Funding figures are drawn from the government's Explanatory Note on Mayoral Strategic Authority Funding 2026-27.  

• Capacity funding allocations: existing MSAs receive £2,257,576 in 2026-27, rising to £2,580,952 in 2028-29; FSAs receive £250,000 per annum across the same period. 

• Annual investment fund allocations for Devolution Priority Programme areas range from £11.1 million (Cumbria) to £44.6 million (Hampshire and the Solent). Details here. 

• Fiscal powers available exclusively to mayoral strategic authorities can be found here. 

• Ed Davey, Zöe Franklin ,Lib Dem Spokesperson for Local Government, and Liberal Democrat council leaders’ joint letter to Andy Burnham: AB devolution letter 10072026.pdf 

One of the issues I’ve been raising in Parliament recently is the decision by Surrey County Council to end the free school meal holiday voucher scheme.

This scheme has provided vital support to families across Surrey, ensuring that children who rely on free school meals during term time do not go without during the holidays. For many families, it offers peace of mind that their child will have access to at least one proper meal a day, even when school is closed.

I have called on Surrey County Council to urgently reconsider this decision and have raised the issue directly in Parliament.

Schools play a critical role not just in education, but in safeguarding and supporting children’s wellbeing. They are often the first place where concerns about a child’s welfare are identified, and the support they provide extends far beyond the classroom.

Removing the holiday voucher scheme risks leaving some of the most vulnerable children without a crucial safety net. At a time when many families are already struggling with the cost of living, this is deeply concerning.

No child in Woking, or anywhere in Surrey, should go hungry simply because it is the school holidays.

I will continue to press Surrey County Council to reverse this decision and work with schools, local organisations and the Government to ensure that children and families receive the support they need all year round.

[Link to PR on website]

https://www.willforster.co.uk/news/article?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=122058&cHash=0b0455d9d49776a5dd41cf592fdcbc5c

Last week marked two years since the General Election. It’s been whirlwind, working to deliver change under an endlessly changing government. I’ve lost track of how many different ministers have represented the various government departments I’ve worked with!

By the end of next week, we’ll have a new Prime Minister, and I hope that he brings with him the stability needed to bring real change. With nearly 20 policy U-turns under Starmer, it’s hard to imagine it can be much worse!

Despite the turmoil, I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved in these two years.

I’ve worked hard to deliver for Woking through extensive casework – supporting local residents with an enormous range of issues – from pension problems, to housing, complex child support cases and more, it’s at the heart of everything I do.

I’ve also been working hard in Westminster, having already spoken in Parliament more times than my predecessor did in 14 years – and within that work I’ve had some notable wins! I thought I’d highlight three of them today...

Securing an unprecedented £500 million write off for Woking’s debt

Even before being elected, I knew that Woking Borough Council’s vast debts were going to be top of the agenda if I became the MP. I’m delighted that after many months of lobbying the Government finally agreed to provide support through a historic £500 million debt write-off.

This is the first time a government has ever written off an individual local authority’s debt before. We’re not out of the woods – there is still a huge amount of debt to contend with – but the government have conceded that more support will be needed in the future.

I’ll continue working with colleagues to ensure that the new West Surrey Council doesn’t start life on the back foot.

Improving protections for vulnerable children

Countless parents and guardians have contacted me about Surrey County Council’s failing children's services. These horror stories sadly come as no surprise. The safeguarding report into the tragic murder of Sara Sharif made it abundantly clear that she was badly let down by social services – and that change is needed to prevent something like this happening again.

I have repeatedly raised this with the Government, including directly with the soon to be ex-Prime Minister, and I’m pleased that they are listening and progress is being made. I’ve helped change the law so that people who are under suspicion of child abuse can’t homeschool their children to hide it.

More still needs to be done. We need national reforms, stronger early intervention, mandatory information sharing and tougher oversight of high-risk cases. I will continue pushing to strengthen services and improve funding to protect children now, not when it is too late.

Securing funding for Goldsworth Park Neighbourhood Health Centre

I’m also pleased to have helped secure funding for a new Neighbourhood Health Centre in Goldsworth Park. This money will see Goldsworth Park Health Centre expand which will increase the number and range of appointments available to patients.

Having a one stop shop of GPs, nurses, physios, mental health workers and much more is a great investment for Woking and residents. I will continue working with NHS leaders to ensure that Woking gets the modern, accessible health it deserves.

Continuing to stand up for breweries and pubs

As many of us know, earlier this year our beloved brewery, Thurston’s closed its doors for the last time. This was Woking’s only local brewery, and whilst the owner - John - has managed to keep the Crown pub open next door, he’ll no longer be able to serve his own beers – much of the blame must fall on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

This tax means pubs and breweries are paying twice to get rid of glass bottles. If the government doesn’t abolish or amend EPR, we’ll continue to lose more of our beloved pubs and breweries if no change is made and I know that I am not the only one who is afraid of that future.

EPR has harmed countless local businesses, which is why I have continued to speak in Parliament against this economically damaging tax. I see how it is affecting the people of Woking. We have business owners struggling to survive and not only that but the loss of pubs and breweries is also a loss to our community. What is most astonishing is that our EPR tax is higher than anyone else in Europe!

That is why I have requested a roundtable meeting with other MPs and more importantly local business owners to come together to find the best path forward. I will not let the Government continue to be ignorant of the hardships of our local businesses.

Watch me question why our EPR tax is so much higher than Europe

Every human being should be entitled to the ability to protest for equal rights. Unfortunately, this basic human right is being oppressed in the region of Kashmir in Pakistan. Simple protests over the cost of electricity and flour have turned into violence, unjust arrests, and a region wide blackout. Even with the region’s people having been cut off from the internet and phone network it has been reported that about 200 people have been killed. Who knows what that number could reach when the people gain access again.  

With Woking’s large Asian population, over 50% have ancestral links to Kashmir. I have been contacted frequently by many of the people about their fears and concerns - that is why I have joined my fellow MPs in signing a letter to the Foreign Secretary to address these injustices. 

Not only is this affecting many of the residents of Woking, but this situation is something that I believe is my duty to speak out against - not only as the MP for Woking, but as a human being. It is vital that peace is found in the Kashmir region for the safety of the people of Kashmir and for the friends and family here in Woking that are worried about their loved ones.   

I have used my platform to address these injustices and put pressure on the Government to help resolve these issues. I started by reminding the Government of its moral responsibility to help ensure a free and democratic election. This would allow the Kashmiri people to choose their own governance, and put their human rights front and centre. 

Upon being pressured the Government has claimed that it is up to India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution. I have pushed back against this policy by questioning its effectiveness. Britain has maintained this neutrality since the conflict began almost 80 years ago and almost nothing has changed. That is longer than many of us have been alive! Surely, that must mean it has been an ineffective strategy.  

By maintaining neutrality we have been complacent in the injustices that have plagued the region of Kashmir. I urge the Government to engage in diplomatic dialogue with the Pakistan Government to help bring an end to this conflict. It is our duty to ensure the safety, freedom, and rights of the Kashmiri people - while it is my duty to soothe the worries of those in Woking who fear for their loved ones.  

Watch me speak about this in Parliament.

Access to quality healthcare close to home is something every resident deserves. I want to ensure that everyone in Woking constituency can access the healthcare they need, when they need it.

Unfortunately, since Byfleet's GP surgery closed in 2005, many residents have been forced to travel along the A245 to access even basic health services. With yet more development proposed in the area, this situation is set to become even more unsustainable.

That is why I have raised the issue in Parliament and called for a meeting with Ministers to discuss funding opportunities to bring healthcare services back to Byfleet. I will continue working hard to ensure local people can access the healthcare they deserve, closer to home.

Watch my speech