Minutes:
On your re-election (for which, congratulations) you promised that later this year you will introduce an immediate justice programme, designed to bring those responsible to justice more quickly. Could you tell us please how those committing antisocial behaviour will be made to provide payback to our neighbourhoods and what form that payback will take?
(Cllr Mike Blakemore, Folkestone and Hythe District Council)
Question 2
Many areas in Kent face a woeful police presence and one such area is the Isle of Sheppey within the Borough of Swale. Sheppey faces unique issues with its poor road’s infrastructure particularly the A249 and the New Sheppey bridge which frequently faces closure. Sheppey residents are concerned about the rise in crime, and they have real concerns about poor police response times. This is a common theme across Kent in many communities but owing to the unique nature of Sheppey it is far worse.
Sheppey doesn’t have an operational police station and often police response must be dispatched from crews from the mainland such as from Sittingbourne, Medway or further afield. The lack of local police available on the Island at times is very concerning, how is the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) holding to account the Chief Constable to ensure the residents receive adequate local policing on Sheppey?
(Cllr Richard Palmer, Swale Borough Council)
1. The Commissioner explained that he had regular conversations with Kent Police about the Isle of Sheppey because he recognised its unique geography and the challenges that its residents faced. The Island would be allocated an additional Neighbourhood Officer (from 4 to 5) as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Model. He advised the Island had an operational police station which Local Policing Team officers worked from, and support was also provided by the Rural Policing Team and the Roads Policing Team. He said Kent Police would always respond to emergencies, like anywhere else in the county. He added Sheerness was receiving hotspot patrols to target serious violence and anti-social behaviour, and the Island would also receive additional roads policing as part of an operation to tackle violent criminals. He reminded Members and the public to sign up to My Community Voice in order to receive regular updates from their local Beat Officer..
Question 3
The Police and Crime Commissioner is known to support that the police should have all the tools at their disposal to help combat crime, such as when tasers were supported, and this is welcomed. In light of this support for said tools and in line with holding the Chief Constable to account for direction of said resources, what can be done to ensure that said resources both human and technological can be dedicated and expanded so that every area has access and constant use of such regular preventative and detective methods, such as the drones used in Op Gurkha? While these are felt to be resource intensive, they deliver great results for local communities suffering from ASB such as bike crimes and have been proven to work by capturing evidence.
(Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Gravesham Borough Council)
1. The Commissioner explained that, as part of hisrural Safer Streets programme, there would be a further investment in drone capability and training for officers, as well as more resource-intensive days of action to tackle offroad motorbikes. In addition, the targeting of anti-social behaviour in rural communities would be carried out more extensively. Actions to tackle anti-social behaviour, fly tipping, illegal offroad motorcycling and rural burglary would all be part of this programme.
RESOLVED: To note the responses to the questions.