Category: Latest News

Between July and September, Kent Police shut down 18 more county lines gangs.

Clips from my Performance and Delivery Board meeting with the Chief Constable in September 2020:

For the first time, Kent’s elected Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has created a survey specifically to understand the impact of business crime in the county.

Residents across Kent are being encouraged to have their say on policing and road safety.

I visited Deal this morning, where I went on a walk about with local MP Natalie Elphicke, the town’s beat PC Sophie Bramble and local councillor Peter Jull.

Crime continued to fall in Kent before the lockdown began. Figures published for the year ending March 2020 showed a 5% fall in police recorded crime – following reductions in the previous two quarters too. The figures show that the investment in extra Officers and Staff is working, as burglary fell by 13%, and knife…

I’ve committed to helping all types of businesses in our county, because it is important that we prevent crime and support victims, no matter who they are. One of the guiding principles of my Police and Crime Plan, Safer in Kent, is that crime is important no matter where it takes place, and for me…

Funded by your council tax as part of my campaign to boost police numbers, the Crime Squad has been targeting burglars, robbers and thieves to bring even more to justice.

British wrestling has had a boom in recent years. There has been a steady growth in the number of independent promotions and more showing an interest in attending shows. And as it has grown here in the UK, more performers have got exposure in the bigger promotions abroad – the current WWE Champion is Scottish,…

Throughout this period of emergency, there have been some stories of selflessness, determination and community spirit that have given people hope. This has taken many forms, with individuals, businesses and other groups working together to support those who are vulnerable. Policing, and the public, continue to benefit from incredible support from volunteers, whether they are…

The tragedy and disruption brought about by Covid-19 has torn through all aspects of everyday life. Going to work, buying a pint of milk, seeing a loved one, exercising, work, holidays, education, celebrations, worship… I could go on. Nothing is untouched and everything is different. For policing, the impact has been significant. The social distancing…

I spoke with BBC Radio Kent yesterday to oppose renewed challenges to taser. They are important pieces of kit that help protect Police Officers and the public. There’s robust training and effective scrutiny locally. I supported Kent Police’s Chief Constable to roll them out to every frontline Officer who wants one and can pass the…

I begin this report having just completed a 128-person Video Conference Call – I spoke to Kent Police Senior Leaders about the current situation and how my team and I have been working with Chief Officers in recent weeks. It was a good opportunity to pass on my best wishes to all of them and…

Matthew Scott has delivered on his promise to substantially increase the number of police officers in Kent.

Kent Police has had another successful round of raids in the ongoing fight against drugs, violence and county lines.

Victims of stalking are to receive dedicated specialist support right across Kent.

I’m pleased to report that non-emergency 101 waiting times continue to show longer term improvement.

Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, has welcomed funding of £123,750 from Home Secretary Priti Patel for the purchase of more tasers for Kent Police Officers.

For Sport Relief 2020, I’m challenging teams Soccer AM style to come and see how many volleys they can score past me! There will also be a last man standing penalty shoot out.

The Medway Taskforce was one of the recommendations of my Violence Reduction Challenge work.

Kent’s Police and Crime Panel has approved my budget plan for 2020. Here’s what this means for Kent:

My Police budget proposal for next year will see Kent Police Officer numbers rise above 3,800.

I met the Home Secretary Priti Patel and Policing Minister Kit Malthouse today, where I talked about police recruitment and how Kent is already delivering the first of the 20,000 Officers that the Government has pledged.

I spoke to BBC South East yesterday about the Police Custody Liaison Scheme, which is helping young people caught up in the criminal justice system and prevent gang-related activity.

Nina and I are pleased to announce the birth of our second child, Edward William Thomas Scott, yesterday morning.

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, is again asking for people to share their experiences of online bullying. Keen to understand the ways in which young people experience cyber-bullying, he has circulated a new anonymous survey to schools across Kent and Medway during Anti-Bullying Week. Mr Scott said: ‘Cyber-bullying is no longer a new…

169 male victims of domestic abuse in Kent have benefited from support from Dads Unlimited and DAVSS so far this year, after the charities received funding from my Office.

Last night I held my latest Bluelight Jobs Fair in Swanley, attended by scores of local residents.

I wholly support the proposal announced by our Home Secretary, Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, to extend police powers to cover illegal incursions and make it a criminal matter, rather than just civil. This follows her predecessor’s consultation earlier this year. As a Police & Crime Commissioner I set the policing pritorities for my county…

The policing of Kent’s town centres is to be given a boost following the announcement that there will be 56 dedicated police officers for our towns across the county.

My reaction to recent announcements on policing.

Join the 3000+ people helping make Kent a safer place to live. Residents and businesses can now let me know how we can keep local communities safe by filling out my Annual Policing Survey. The survey is one of the key ways I gather feedback on what Kent Police’s priorities should be and what I…

It’s abhorrent that 23 Kent Police Officers are assaulted every week. They go in to every shift to keep us safe, but they shouldn’t have to go through physical injury and mental ill health as a result.

A new helpline and outreach service is to be created to support young people affected by knife crime in Kent.

Meeting Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street earlier this week, where we spoke about police numbers and how Kent can benefit from the extra 20,000 pledged.

My decision to boost the recruitment of Police Officers in Kent is starting to make a difference. Last week, we got confirmation from the Home Office that in Kent, I boosted Police numbers by more than any other in the whole country.

I recently invited you to submit questions to me for answer on YouTube and on the podcast! Here’s my comments on PCSO powers, thefts, Brexit, Speedwatch and recruitment.

For the first time, I’ve collated as much of the work I have done on mental health and policing as possible in to one place. This includes countless articles, videos, blogs and press releases, which you’ll see as you scroll through.

A key responsibility of a Police and Crime Commissioner is holding the Chief Constable to account – but what does that mean in practice?

Thank you to Network Kent for allowing me to speak to your small business members this morning about my role as a PCC and how I’m making sure that the needs of business are being met in policing and community safety.

I’ve been meeting with Ministers from the Department for Transport and others to make sure our roads flow smoothly after we leave the European Union, and that Kent council taxpayers aren’t footing the bill.

West Kent’s emergency services come together for a joint training event to learn more about supporting people living with dementia and their families.

Kent’s current Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, has been unanimously re-selected by Kent Conservatives and will stand again as the Conservative candidate for Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner on 7th May 2020.

I’ve been visiting the brilliant Porchlight charity in #Canterbury today to talk about how we can work together with the Police to support rough sleepers and the homeless.

I was back in the village for my latest question and answer session with residents earlier today.

Here’s my video message for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Today marks the third anniversary of my first day in office as Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has set aside £1million to invest in projects which aim to cut violent crime in Kent and Medway.

Article first appeared on Conservative Home in March 2019.

This week, the Home Secretary has summoned Chief Constables to London for another meeting about the response to violent crime, following further murders outside of our county. It is absolutely vital that we all work together – Police Chiefs, PCCs, the Home Office, the criminal justice system and other agencies to join up our efforts…

Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, cut the ribbon to formally open the extension at Maidstone and Mid Kent Mind’s Offices in College Road on Friday morning, 1 March. Matthew was among a number of supporters who helped fund the £140,000 project, which has created more consultation rooms, training areas and office space. Matthew…

I stopped at Maidstone services recently during one of my cross county journeys recently when I bumped into a couple of Kent’s Roads Policing Officers.

Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, has welcomed a report published today that provides stark warnings about the number of young people involved in gangs and the response of statutory agencies across the country.

I’m part of a cross party Brexit working group of PCCs that has been looking at the impact on policing and security; working with Police Chiefs and others to make sure that plans are in place for whatever the outcome is after 29 March.

Let’s start with the acknowledgement of the good news – Kent Police have been deemed “outstanding” by the independent inspectors of Policing for the accuracy of its crime recording practices.

I’ve been visiting Kent Police Stations in Longport on this side of the Channel and Coquelles on the other as part of my programme of meetings with the different teams within the Force.

It’s a big week ahead as I announce my Budget plan for Kent Police for next year.

Thank you to everyone working over the festive period to keep us safe.

As I announced on BBC South East’s Sunday Politics Show, I’ve helped Kent Police secure the first instalment of funding for the planning costs of Brexit, worth £850,000.

I’m delighted that the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act has recommended what Police and Crime Commissioners and many others have wanted for some time – that police cells should not be used to keep someone safe when they are detained under the Mental Health Act.

Following my recent blog, the inspectorate of Constabularies has now published their report into mental health and policing.

Tomorrow, Parliament debates much needed legislation to give response drivers the protection they need in law. I hope it succeeds.

The Protect the Protectors Act (or the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 to give its proper name) received Royal Assent recently.

Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, the Home Secretary, paid a visit to Canterbury on Saturday to speak at a political event that I attended.

I spent to morning with the Kent Police Commercial Vehicle Unit observing their efforts to keep our roads safe by cracking down on mobile phone use at the wheel.

As part of my programme of visits within the Force, I try to block out a week periodically whereby I can spend most of the time meeting teams of Officers and Staff from across the organisation.

Today was the first of what I hope will be a regular feature on BBC Radio Kent – an hour long phone in on Policing and Crime.

Kent Police Training College hosted one of the largest passing out parades in its history today – as over 243 student Constables came together to celebrate the graduation of Class 4 of 2018.

Earlier today, I tweeted a graph that was displayed at the Annual NPCC and APCC Partnership Summit by Chief Constable Sara Thornton, showing the times of day that Police Forces get the most mental health related calls.

I was delighted to have over 300 people come along to by first Bluelight Jobs Fayre in Dartford today. It was tremendously well supported by all of the stallholders and the public.

Last week, I spoke out about the announcement that has been made by the Treasury about the revaluation of the police pensions.

Every year, I run my Annual Policing Survey, so that I can understand what issues are important to you, your family and your neighbourhood.

The Violence Reduction Challenge is my response to the emerging issues we are seeing nationwide with crime, whether it be county lines, gangs, drugs, domestic abuse, sexual violence and public order.

Hate crime is real and it is still happening across the country. There are many who still wish to divide us on the basis of their hate and target religions, races, gender, disability and other characteristics in order to do so. We cannot allow them to succeed.

I was pleased to be invited to speak at a debate in Parliament this evening on the challenges faced by UK Policing, businesses and others of cyber crime and fraud.

I was honoured to be invited to the Lord Ferrers awards in London today, which celebrate the contribution made by volunteers in Policing.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be publishing a series of graphics about the things that I am doing to support residents and keep our county safe.

In this post, I’m bringing together all of the featured articles about my work on Brexit, both standing up for the people of Kent and making sure that national law enforcement bodies’ views are heard as the Conservative Party spokesman for PCCs.

All of my activities for #WorldMentalHealthDay rounded up in one place including my blog, announcement for businesses and radio appearance

Today I co-hosted an event with Sir Tom Winsor, HMICFRS and the Home Office about improving the response to inspection reports.

APCC Lead for Mental Health APCC Lead for Performance Conservative Spokesman on Brexit

Police performance has been in the spotlight consistently in recent months. Death on the streets of London, an increase in the number of incidents reported to police, and fewer justice outcomes have all contributed to increased concerns.