To receive a verbal update from Kent Police and a presentation about rural crime figures for Swale.

Questions from members of the public are welcome.

The Chairman welcomed Chief Inspector Tony Henley, Inspector Gavin Wade and Inspector Dave Smith (Kent Police) to the meeting.

Chief Inspector Tony Henley gave a presentation on rural crime figures for Swale which included an overview of the new policing model for Swale, following a comprehensive spending review in 2011.  He explained that approximately  1,300 Police officers had left the service over the 3 ½ year period and further significant cuts were expected for 2015/16 so the Police were under significant pressure.

Chief Inspector Henley outlined the ways in which the Police were managing the new policing model which included: managing expectation; checking configured in the best way to meet demand; staff training; and looking for innovation whilst ensuring that the core values of the Police were protected.  Chief Inspector Henley also gave a breakdown of calls received by Swale Police over a weekend period – 321 calls were received; 42 were classed as urgent and were from the urban community and 7 urgent from the rural community. 

Chief Inspector Henley stated that in June 2014 there had been a significant re-organisation of Kent Police.  Following the re-organisation, he now had greater responsibility but also more staff than he had previously. 

Chief Inspector Henley spoke about the Kent Police Crime Performance Review undertaken in 2012 which identified that 1 in 10 reported crimes in Kent were not being recorded properly.  Chief Inspector Henley stated that a national Crime Performance Review had been undertaken, as highlighted in the press that very day, which identified that other forces throughout England were not recording 1 in 5 crimes properly.  He explained that Kent were therefore ahead of the game in respect of addressing the issue.

In response to a query from a Member, Chief Inspector Henley stated that the figures related to all crime not just anti-social behaviour.  He spoke about how some of the incidents reported were not what we would consider crime, but still had to be logged as such examples included: shooting with a water pistol incident; and being knocked into with a shopping trolley. 

Chief Inspector Henley drew attention to the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies’ (HMIC) report on Crime Data Integrity in Kent which had recently been published.  He explained that this had identified that 96% of crimes in Kent had been accurately recorded and 8 out of 10 victims of crime in Kent were satisfied with the way they had been treated. 

Chief Inspector Henley stated that he was very proud to say that crime had reduced more in Swale than any other area.  He provided crime statistics for each ward of Swale which could also be viewed on the Kent Police website:http

://www.kent.police.uk/

Chief Inspector Henley introduced Inspector Dave Smith (Rural Liaison Team).  Inspector Smith explained that he was based in Aylesford as part of the Rural Liaison Team which currently had eight officers.  Inspector Smith stated that the team worked with 120 partners including farmers; the National Farmers Union; and local gamekeepers. 

Inspector Smith gave a short presentation on the work of the Rural Liaison Team and the Operation Nonegon days of action undertaken across the county to reduce crime in rural areas.  Inspector Smith provided an update on a recent Operation Nonegon which resulted in 11 arrests, of which 6 were for burglary.  A further Operation Nonegon was planned.  He also spoke about a fly tipping incident in Stalisfield where the team were working with KCC Highways to resolve. 

Inspector Smith spoke about hare coursing and that officers were being re-educated about the practice and its impacts on the farming community.  He spoke about Operation Parody which focused on combating hare coursing on the marsh areas of Kent and Operation Salmon a county-wide operation to combat all forms of poaching. Inspector Smith drew attention to the ‘Rural Matters’ magazine, copies of which were available for members at the meeting.

The Chairman advised those present that as there was no time for questions if any person wished to forward a question to Democratic Services these would be answered in writing.

The Chairman thanked Chief Inspector Henley, Inspector Wade and Inspector Smith for attending the meeting.