Category: Latest News

How one team secured over 2400 charges for burglary and thefts

Criminals sent to prison for over 1300 years.

The Crime Squad was established from your council tax three years ago to go after burglars, robbers and thieves.

Here’s how they’ve secured over 2400 charges, #MakingKentSafer.

The Crime Squad covers the entire county, with more than 30 officers operating across several different bases.

Among its ranks are specialist detectives and police officers who carry out intelligence-led patrols to disrupt criminals.

The team also has its own analyst, whose real time monitoring of crime trends allows the team to gather an intimate understanding of issues affecting a particular area.

These working arrangements mean the Crime Squad is able to quickly identify offenders, and proactively target them to stop them committing further offences.

From the time they went operational, their investigations have seen offenders jailed for 1,318 years. They have also made 850 arrests, carried out 428 warrants and issued 2,415 charges.

Over the past year alone, the team has locked up criminals for 405 years, carried out 140 warrants, made 240 arrests and received authority to issue 535 charges.

This is your council tax in action. And they’re not going away – these crimes won’t be tolerated in Kent!

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Violence against women and girls inquiry launched

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most important challenges of our time.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most important challenges of our time.

With high profile tragedies, powerful testimony from survivors and challenges in our justice system, we all have to come together to make changes.


That’s why today, I’m launching a system-wise review on the subject of violence against women and girls, which will look at prevention, education, the victim journey and how we deal with perpetrators.


Consultation and workshops will follow as well as high level meetings with the Chief Constable, Criminal Justice agencies, service providers and survivors. This will include men and boys too.


This is our opportunity to build the best possible picture and make meaningful changes for the future. I hope you will join me on this mission.


To keep up to date on the latest developments, visit www.kent-pcc.gov.uk.

Funding secured to make Ramsgate and Canterbury safer

I’m delighted that my team and I have secured £769,436 from the Home Office to make Ramsgate and Canterbury safer.

I’m delighted that my team and I have secured £769,436 from the Home Office to make #Ramsgate and #Canterbury safer.

The money will be used for CCTV, street lighting and community engagement events (particularly focussed at elderly people who’re at risk and been alone and also prevention work for vulnerable children and young people to build positive character traits.

But it will also be used to improve home security for at risk people, provide personal attack alarms for young women and things like purse and cable ties, to prevent theft from person.

It will also help clean up litter and graffiti and there will be schemes to try to prevent moped at bike thefts.

Central Harbour and Eastciff Ramsgate will get £387,078 and Westgate in Canterbury will get £382,358.

This is excellent news and will compliment the investment I have already made in Town Centre PCs and Crime prevention PCSOs.

Nightingale Court secured for Kent

Victims and witnesses deserve efficient and effective justice and this new facility will help deliver that.

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, says he’s delighted the Ministry of Justice has agreed to establish a Nightingale Court in Maidstone. The court, which will be at the Mercure Hotel in the city, will be an extension of Maidstone Crown Court and will be operational this week.

Matthew Scott has been lobbying with Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott for such a court for many months, citing serious delays in the local court system due to the pandemic. Like many parts of the country, Kent has a significant backlog with some cases not listed for trial until 2022.

However, the establishment of a Nightingale Court will alleviate some of this pressure. It will hear civil, tribunal and other non-custodial cases, freeing up Maidstone Crown Court to hear jury trials which require cells and secure dock facilities.

Mr. Scott says, “I lobbied Ministers for the Nightingale Court because it is vital we address the backlog of cases in our justice system. Victims and witnesses deserve efficient and effective justice and this new facility will help deliver that. I am pleased that the Government is listening and acting on this crucial issue.

“I congratulate the team at HM Courts and Tribunal Service locally for their work to deliver this and pay tribute to all criminal justice agencies who are doing their best in difficult circumstances to ensure that our justice system continues to provide.

Funding secured to support victims of abuse

My team and I have secured extra cash for services specially designed to help people who’ve suffered either domestic abuse or sexual violence.

The Government has agreed to give more than £1.38 million to help support some of Kent’s most vulnerable people. Domestic Abuse has risen across the country during the pandemic and Kent’s Police Force dealt with 3233 more victims than the previous year (an increase of 9% since 2019).

My team and I have secured extra cash for services specially designed to help people who’ve suffered either domestic abuse or sexual violence. It’s on top of a further £275,000 already being spent helping young victims of sexual violence.

I am delighted these vital services are receiving extra funding. The work they do is invaluable and without them some of the most vulnerable people in our community would simply be unable to cope. They help children and adults alike and despite very real challenges, they make a huge difference to so many.

I am committed to working to reduce the pain caused by domestic abuse and sexual violence and it remains a priority for my second term in post.