Minutes:
1. There has been significant community tension recently in the many places in Kent that have seen demonstrations and counter demonstrations regarding asylum seeker accommodation. Could the Commissioner please outline the impact of this on police resourcing and what plan is moving forward to ease tensions in our communities?
(CouncillorHannah Perkin, Swale Borough Council)
a. In response to this question, Mr Scott said any locations that have or are associated with accommodation have response plans and patrolling strategies. It was part of the force's responsibilities to respond to lawful, peaceful, planned protests, and counter protests. Local District Commanders made sure that there were resources in place and liaised regularly with the managers of venues.
b. There were local patrolling strategies in place for the prevention and mitigation of hate crime and Beat Officers had built effective relationships with the local community that enabled targeted and timely responses. Positive action was taken when crimes were reported and they were investigated in line with all crimes reported to police.
2. There is to be a roll out of a new digital case file system (DCF), starting in Wales in around mid-2026 then spreading nationwide, including in Kent.
Please can you confirm whether Kent Police or another authority is meeting the cost of training and implementing this new system? Is there an estimate on the likely financial cost of implementing this new system in Kent?
Further, my understanding is the Proportionate File Build currently being piloted in Kent will not be compatible with the new DCF. Please may you offer any comments in relation to this lack of compatibility?"
(Mr John Moreland, Kent County Council)
a. The Commissioner advised the DCF programme would enable case file information to be entered ‘right first time’ on forces’ key systems. It would be delivered by providing enhancements to force Records Management Systems (RMS – Athena in Kent) and the CPS case management system. He confirmed development of RMS functionality was being undertaken by a centrally funded national programme and RMS providers. Local implementation, including training, would be delivered and covered by forces.
b. The Proportionate File Build was being piloted in Kent. It was not directly related to the DCF, although both used the Athena system. The DCF development team were aware there may be compatibility issues and once the two pilots were complete, they would make any necessary changes.
3. We understand that there is a possibility the Crime Reduction Grant could be cut in 2026. Based on the issues Boroughs are facing with ASB and County Lines, why would such important funding be withdrawn, and how could you justify not opposing the potential withdrawal of this funding?
(Councillor Deborah Croxton, Gravesham Borough Council)
a. The Commissioner said that national funding for several initiatives had been cut and that one of the key challenges of police funding being from year to year was that it was difficult for him to provide any funding guarantees. For instance, the previous year, victim support services funding was cut by 4.2 % at the last minute. No decisions had been confirmed with regards to third party funding for 2026 -27 because it was not known what funding would be allocated by the Home Office or the Ministry of Justice.
RESOLVED: To note the responses to the questions.