Hundreds of children in Surrey with special educational needs and disabilities did not get a support plan within the legal time limit, a report by MPs has said.

In most cases, councils have a deadline of 20 weeks to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan after a parent or school asks for one.

The report said 16.2% of EHCPs in Surrey were issued in time in 2023.

In January 2024, 5.9 % of children aged five to 15 in the county had an EHCP

Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, Clare Curran says the council is working hard to improve this council’s services for children with additional needs and disabilities.

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On Tuesday, the Leader of Crawley Borough Council, Councillor Michael Jones, and Councillor Yasmin Khan, Cabinet member for Public Protection, raised the Unity pledge to its new position in the reception area of the Town Hall.

The Unity pledge celebrates the diversity and inclusivity of the town and was signed by community leaders, council members and other key representatives from across the local community at the first unity event held last year.

All of those who attended the event marked the occasion by signing the pledge.

K2 Crawley is to benefit from £2.5 million investment.

The funding agreement, which has been approved by Full Council and is subject to contract, will see the upgrade of health and fitness facilities, with Everyone Active, the leisure provider contributing the rest.

The improved facilities will include a gym expansion, revamped group exercise studios, a sleek new reception area and refreshed meeting rooms.

Upgrades are due to start in the Spring.

Police investigating a report of stolen luggage have released images of a man they wish to speak with.

Officers were alerted about the theft of baggage from the check-in area A in the South Terminal at London Gatwick.

It happened on December 12 between 11.35 and 11.50am.

A family were due to fly on a long haul flight from the airport.

Their baggage contained items including Apple electronic gadgets and laptops, house keys, a wallet containing bank cards, Sony headphones, and scuba diving equipment including snorkels and a wetsuit.

It is believed that the thief boarded a bus to Crawley and later attempted to use the stolen bank cards in the Langley Green area.

Officers have carried out enquiries, and are releasing CCTV images of a man they wish to speak with in connection with the theft.

The man is described as being aged in his 30s with a beard, wearing a dark blue jacket, blue jeans, black trainers, and a dark or brown coloured baseball cap.

Inspector Mark Robinson said: “We are investigating a report of theft of luggage from the terminal area at London Gatwick while the victim was distracted.

“This was distressing for the victim, who was with his young family at the time and seeking to embark on a holiday ahead of a busy festive period.

“We are issuing CCTV images of a man we wish to speak with in connection with our enquiries, anyone who can identify him is asked to come forward.”

Information can be reported to Sussex Police online by quoting serial 1097 of 12/12.

Officers arrested 140 people for drug driving in December, nearly double the number of drink driving arrests during the same period.

Surrey Police made 196 arrests and stopped more than 8,000 vehicles as part of Operation Limit, the month-long winter crackdown on drink and drug driving.

Drink and drug driving is one of the “fatal five” causes of fatal or serious injury collisions on our roads, and these results show how drug driving is becoming increasingly more prominent in Surrey than drink driving.

Officers conducted increased patrols and set up random stop check sites along busy roads to provide a visible deterrent to offenders, and during December 8,847 vehicles were stopped and checked, up from 5,023 in the previous year’s campaign.

Some key results from the campaign included:

• A driver who decided to try and do a U-turn to avoid a check site in Guildford, who was swiftly intercepted and arrested for drug driving, possession of cannabis, no insurance, and a bald tyre.
• A driver and passenger arrested at a check site in Hersham after a vehicle search uncovered a large amount of cash and Class A, B, and C drugs.
• Four people arrested for drink driving in a single night.

Superintendent Rachel Glenton, head of Roads Policing for Surrey and Sussex, said: “This year we have stopped more vehicles and made more arrests than ever before. That is a testament to the professionalism of our officers who work to keep our roads safe.

“We carried out more drug tests to raise awareness of how illegal substances can stay in people’s bodies for far longer and impair their ability to drive safely.

“Our patrols on the roads continue 24/7, all year round, to catch offenders and prevent them causing serious harm to themselves and other road users.”

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Surrey’s fantastic roads policing teams are dedicated to targeting the arrogant and selfish drink- and drug-drivers who pay so little regard to the safety of others.

“The results from this year’s Operation Limit campaign speak for themselves. Across both Surrey and Sussex, thousands of people were stopped, and hundreds were arrested after failing drug wipes and breath tests.

“I’m very proud of the tireless efforts of our officers to prevent tragedies on the roads.

“No one has the right to endanger the lives of innocent people through this entitled, idiotic behaviour.”

The consequences of a drink or drug-driving conviction could include:

• A minimum 12-month ban;
• An unlimited fine;
• A possible prison sentence;
• A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
• An increase in your car insurance;
• Trouble travelling to countries such as the USA;

You could also kill or seriously injure yourself or someone else.

SURREY STATISTICS FOR OPERATION LIMIT

• Officers made 196 arrests, 140 for drug driving and 84 for drink driving.
• Officers completed 8,847 vehicle stop checks, up from 5,023 in the previous year’s campaign.
• There were 474 Drug Wipe tests carried out, with 140 returning a positive result.
• There were 2310 breath tests carried out, with 84 that were positive, refused, or failed to provide.