Conservative Candidates Meet with Police and Crime Commissioner

Hempstead and Wigmore Council Candidates Jim Gilbourne and Andrew Lawrence recently met with Kent Policy and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott to receive an update on Kent Police's performance and priorities and hear first hand the Commissioner's future plans.

Matthew gave a verbal update and how it was tackling his priorities. By creating specialists teams and task forces to focus on different types of crime such as burglary and county lines, Kent Police are achieving successes. Overall crime is down 7%, burglary down 40% and the number of county lines reduced from 83 to 29.

Police numbers have increased by 350 and are now at record numbers. The plan is for each Ward will have a named Police Constable who will be assigned on a permanent basis and will be tasked to get to know the Ward.

Matthew is keen to improve the offer to children, tackling anti-social behaviour and rural crime and improvements are also needed in crime detection. Matthew raised the issue of inadequate sentencing, especially with assaults on police officers and delays in the Crown Courts where a shortage of Judges was delaying trials.

In light of issues in the Metropolitan Police, Andrew and Jim were keen to hear what steps are being taken in Kent Police. Matthew was clear that Kent Police are taking a zero tolerance approach to poor professional behaviour encouraging officers to come forward promptly when they witness such behaviour. There is an active anti-corruption unit and an anonymous whistleblowing policy.

In concluding the meeting Matthew encouraged Andrew and Jim to arrange to meet with their local Police Constable on a regular basis and join them on the beat.

Notes

Visit Police and Crime Commissioner website.

Visit Hempstead and Wigmore information on Kent Police website.

From left to right - Andrew Lawrence, Matthew Scott and Jim Gilbourne