Inspector Julia Bassindale, Kent Police, gave an update on policing in the Sittingbourne area. She said that she had taken over from Inspector Ryan Chase and had been in the post for 7 weeks. Her update covered the following items:

·       Swale Police should soon be fully staffed, there were two Police Constable (PC) positions currently out for recruitment as well as a Child Centred Policing Officer role and it was hoped all positions would soon be filled;

·       there had been a focus on two hot-spot areas, one in Sheerness and one in Sittingbourne High Street and this would continue to be the focus for the next few months. Section 34 notices had been implemented to deal with anti-social behaviour (ASB);

·       the Police had booked the gaming bus for one day over the schools’ half-term holiday and it had been very effective at reducing ASB. The bus would also be operational during the Easter and summer school holidays;

·       there was close working with the Victim Based Crime Team who were able to identify suspects quickly so that action could be taken;

·       diversionary tactics were being used to tackle ASB such as the Sports Connect Programme on the Isle of Sheppey. Inspector Bassindale said she would like to get the programme started in Sittingbourne but that was dependant on receiving funding for it;

·       there were targeting days of action planned over the next few months aimed at nuisance vehicles;

·       Operation Vigilant, which targeted public houses and caravan parks, would continue;

·       good officer engagement continued to take place with the Violence Against Women and Girls programme; and

·       a week of engagement was planned with the Business Crime Partnership between 17 and 23 March 2025.

The following questions and comments were raised:

·       Mr Cooper, from The Bus Shelter Kent, said they had a gaming bus which the Police could use;

·       the increase in physical Police presence on Sittingbourne High Street was good;

·       had court orders been explored to deal with people hanging around?;

·       did Kent Police have a license for live facial recognition software?;

·       the illegal use of dirt bikes was an issue;

·       the lack of ticket barriers at Sheerness and Kemsley railway stations were access points for ASB perpetrators, could a piece of work take place with British Transport Police and Network Rail to reinstate the barriers?;

·       some Borough Councillors and residents would like to set up a Neighbourhood Watch Group and asked for a meeting with Inspector Bassindale to discuss this further;

·       catapults and imitation guns were being sold from a shop on Sittingbourne High Street;

·       what was the Police policy on pupils wearing school uniforms being observed smoking vapes?; and

·       it would be useful for Swale Borough Council (SBC) to put a paper together to inform residents of some Police action taking place in the Borough.

Inspector Bassindale responded that officers were deployed in the focus areas at peak times. Community Protection Warnings had been issued in some cases. Inspector Bassindale stated she was not aware of live facial recognition software being used. A piece of work was planned with British Transport Police and Network Rail to address the lack of barriers at Sheerness and Kemsley Railway Stations. Both Inspector Bassindale and PC Williams would be happy to work with Councillors and residents to set up a Neighbourhood Watch Group. The Police were aware of items such as catapults being sold and were dealing with the issue. A multi-agency approach dealt with under-age vaping. The Sittingbourne Area Committee Chair agreed to follow up with SBC officers the suggestion to communicate news of Police action taking place in the Borough.