Continued from page one
model, to start from mid-Novem- ber, Maidstone will getmore offi- cers – and more of them will be seen on the streets. Despite pressure on police re- sources, Ch Insp Griffiths said he would have five inspectors (cur- rently two); 15 sergeants (five now); 68 constables (21 now); and
Crime is ‘moving to rural areas’
probably 30 PCSOs (22.5 now) at his disposal. A spokesman for Kent Police
said this was possible due to a re- structuring of administrative de- partments: “We are looking to reduce staff across the force. There will be some losses but not
in the policing element.” Kent Chief Constable Ian Lear- month said: "This shows that sort of commitment in specific num- bers at Maidstone." The borough will be split into
three sectors –East andWest, each with five sergeants, 25 PCs and 14
Iggy’s bolt from the past!
A DINOSAUR that roamed the Maidstone area 140 million years ago may resurface as a mascot to generate interest in the Olympic torch's pro- cession through the county town next summer. The iguanadon – known as Iggy – has been linked with Maidstone since remainswere found here in 1834. It led to the first skeletal recon- structions of the creature. Cllr Martin Cox, chairman of the town's river festival, is on the committee looking at how to make July 19, the day the torch passes through
Firm goes for broke STAFF from a Maidstone security firm turned the tables and dressed up as rob- bers for a charity dragon boat event. Landmark Security, based in Albion
Place, raised over £4,000 for Action for Children by dressing up as burglars and racing in Chinese-style dragon boats over a 250m course in BewlWater. Bearsted man LiamWalsh, managing director of Landmark Security, said: “This is the first year that we have entered the Dragon Boat race, so we thought we’d try and do something eye catching. Hopefully 16 bur- glars, with bags of swag, rowing frantically in a dragon boat did the trick – we were just glad
Maidstone, a high-profile occasion. He said: “We need to come up with a brand for Maidstone, just for the torch, maybe something to do with the iguanadon. Iggy emerged as a charac- ter at the festival in the 1980s. We could revive Iggy and have him carrying the torch.” Cllr Cox said a children’s art competition might
be run, with tickets going to the winning school. But entrants should bear in mind that the 3-
tonne iguanadon was no Usain Bolt. It had pow- erful legs but they were not built for running.
PCSOs; and the Town with three sergeants (two now) and 25 PCs (six now), plus an extra PCSO. More good news:
Three out of every four burgla- ries are being detected (74.5%). "That rates us among the top in the country, not just the county. That's an astounding detection rate," said Ch Insp Griffiths.
Vehicle crime – 49% detection rate, second in Kent. Theft –130 fewer offences in the town centre. Ch Insp Griffiths said this year
there had been 52 fewer crimes – a 21% drop – in Shepway North and a similar success in Shepway South. He said diverting youth from
crime is “absolutely key” and cited the Isle of Sheppey, where he was previously based, as an example. Creating interests for young people in boxing, rowing and rugby clubs had resulted in a 17% crime reduction.
Ash tree snub MERVYN Westley was blocked from reducing the height of an ash tree by 50% at Horton Downs, Downs- wood.
Maidstone Council’s land-
that nobody got confused and called 999!” The company came second from 30 teams. Golding Homes, or Golding Gnomes as
their team was known, won £100 prize for their outfits on the day.
HAMILTON KIT C HENS
scape officer said there were no visual defects to suggest the tree was unhealthy or un- safe. He added that the pro- posalwould “lessen the tree’s visual prominence to the detriment of the amenity and character of the area”.
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