Schoolchildren have made farewell cards for a popular policeman who has helped make Stoneleigh one of the safest places in the country.
PC Dan Doherty, 42, left his post as neighbourhood officer for Stoneleigh, Auriol and Cuddington wards this month after seven and a half years to join Reigate CID.
In addition to tackling problem drinking and graffiti and installing an alarm system in the Broadway, he leaves behind the largest Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Surrey and the best attended panel meetings in Epsom and Ewell.
PC Doherty said: "I’m very sad but I knew at some stage I would have to move on to progress my career. Now I’m looking at becoming a detective.
"I’m sad, but happy I have met a lot of people. I will never forget them and hopefully they will never forget me, for the right reasons."
PC Doherty used to give stranger danger talks to reception classes at Cuddington Community Primary School and lots of children there made him good luck cards.
He said: "It’s quite incredible, when I went to do a school assembly 95 per cent of the kids have grown up in the time I have been a neighbourhood specialist officer."
He paid tribute to his police colleagues and residents who have helped make the area so safe: "It was never them and us. We all worked with the same principle: for the residents. We have seen a significant influx of intelligence from people contacting us."
Over his time in the neighbourhood he has dealt with robberies, burglaries, rape and a wide range of other crimes.
But he said: "The most satisfying arrests are when someone has been burgled or robbed. That hits people hard."
He said the safer neighbourhood team introduced an alarm system in Stoneleigh Broadway, which means lone female shop workers can call on other businesses for back-up if trouble starts. He said: "It’s been peace of mind for them and a great success as well."
He said Auriol Park and Shadbolt Park used to have a lot of graffiti, litter and kids drinking but have since been cleaned up. He said: "It’s completely different. There are more families there now."
PC Doherty, orginially from Northern Ireland, said: "Surrey is probably the safest county in the country. Epsom and Ewell is probably one of the safest boroughs in the county.
"And I would say Stoneleigh, Auriol and Cuddington is one of the safest neighbourhoods."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here