Murder charge after mother’s stab death


A MAN has been charged with the murder of a 31-year-old woman who grew up in Vinters Park.


Dawn Taylor (pictured) died after sustaining serious stab wounds in her Sheffield home. The former Vinters Girls School pupil and mother-of-three had moved to Yorkshire in 2008. Her death stunned family and friends in the Maidstone area. Dawn attended Hadlow College after finish-


ing school, studying photography and going on to local work, including a spell as a post- woman inWateringbury and work at theMug- gleton Inn in town. Dawn leaves children Stephanie (10) Reece


(7) and Hannah (3). The two girls were in her house when police arrived. She died of her


Club may close


A DECISION was due to be made on whether to close the Maidstone Club, based in Earl Street, due to a decline in income. Trustees have decided that themem-


bers club, which has been running since 1873, is no longer viable. Secre- tary Roger Bettle said: “The member- ship has declined substantially in the last 15 to 20 years. There are no longer as many businesses in the town, which is where we get much of our trade from. ”With a large listed building to maintain, the books just don’t bal- ance.” The club’s management committee


was voting on the organisation’s clo- sure as Downs Mail went to press.


wounds on the way to hospital. A neighbour said Dawn had started a new relation-


ship with a man after she split from her husband, but that the boyfriend had moved out and back in again repeatedly. Dawn's sister, Carol, said: “She loved the band Bon


Jovi and had seen them live. She will be remembered by the way she could light up a room with her smile, and her infectious laughter.” Dawn leaves her parents Linda and Barry, sister


Carol and her children. In a statement shortly after her death, Dawn’s family


said: “This is a tragic time for our family suffering the loss of a mother, daughter, granddaughter and sister. She will be forever in our hearts and sorely missed.”  Mark John Hatter (45), of Hammerton Road, Hills- borough, has been remanded in custody by Sheffield magistrates.


Police praised on restructure plans


KENT Police has welcomed a report by the Government’s policing watchdog that has praised its plans to restructure the force and improve frontline services while making sig- nificant savings. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary


has assessed all 43 police forces in England and Wales on how they plan to meet finan- cial challenges and the likely impact on the public. It concluded that Kent is well placed to


meet the target to make savings of £50m over the next four years. The report acknowledges thework done by


Kent Police and Kent Police Authority to pre- pare for the financial challenges, having cor- rectly anticipated the level of budget reduction and started planning early. It praises the level of public consultation


and the way feedback from communities has influenced the priorities in the new structure. Chief Constable Ian Learmonth has stressed


that the policing service the public receives will be protected despite the cutbacks and changes within the force. The force says that, with more than 450 ad- ditional neighbourhood officers, district com- manders will have greater flexibility to respond to local priorities and the new re- sponse model means that attendance will be centrally managed so the nearest, most ap- propriate officers will respond to emergency calls.


Plans to cut around 500 officers and 1,000


back office staff to make savings have been well publicised. The report states that the level of engagement and internal communi- cation with staff has been good.


LAUNCHING NEW - Maidstone Riverside Arts & Makers Fair along the bank of the River Medway


Sunday 10am-6pm through August then both Saturday & Sunday until October. Support Kent's talent & have great time by the River. To find out more Visit www.the-barge.co.uk


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 Town 23


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