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downsmail.co.uk Ann apologises aer C4 exposé
KENT Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes has apologised after her appearance in a fly- on-the-wall C4 documentary left her, Kent police officers and staff red-faced.
But the £85,000 a year commis- sioner has vowed to stay in her job, despite claims her participation in the programme made had made the force “a laughing stock”. The Kent Police and Crime Panel
was forced to consider the future of the commissioner after Mrs Barnes appeared on prime-time TV in what she thought would be a reve- lation to the people about her role. In the event, it left many thinking the commissioner looked inept and foolish – and Kent Police claiming its reputation had been damaged. Mrs Barnes, who was featured painting her nails, taking her dogs to work and struggling to come up with a job description for her role, apologised to the Kent Police and Crime Panel when she was hauled before them to explain. A second blow, within days of the screening, came with the revelation that Mrs Barnes’
recently-ap- pointed youth commissioner, Kerry
Call to singers A COMMUNITY choir in Maid- stone is on the lookout for new members.
The BIG Sing is a national project that aims to bring people of differ- ent ages, backgrounds and cultures together through a shared love of music including pop, soul, gospel and more.
No previous experience (or singing talent) is required – just bags of enthusiasm and the willing- ness to have fun. Sessions cost £5 a week and take place every Thursday, from 7pm- 9pm in Costa Coffee at the Maid- stone Campus of Mid Kent College. Visit
www.big-sing.com or call 0844 740 7403 for more information.
Fewer jobless THE number of unemployed peo- ple in Maidstone continues to fall. The trend, which began in Febru-
ary, saw the April figure for those out of work in the town stand at 1,685, down 117.
The findings coincide with a jump in the number of people working from home and an overall fall in those out of work across Kent (down by more than 1,000 people in April), for the second consecu- tive month.
were 2.21 million people out of work from
The latest UK figures show there January to March,
133,000 fewer than for October to December 2013 and 309,000 fewer than a year earlier.
Formore local news
www.downsmail.co.uk 20 Maidstone Town July 2014
Boyd, had been suspended follow- ing allegations she had been con- ducting a relationship with a 50-year-old married man. The 20-year-old former London 2012 torchbearer was given the role in March after her predecessor Paris Brown (17) resigned over of- fensive comments she made on Twitter. Miss Boyd was suspended from her role.
In considering the impact of C4’s “Meet the Commissioner”, the panel agreed with Mrs Barnes, who said the decision to participate in the documentary was an “error of judgment”.
The panel said it believed the ex- pose had damaged the reputation of the Kent PCC, PCCs nationally and the reputation of Kent Police and asked the commissioner to re- port back on her plans to repair the damage.
Mrs Barnes has also been asked to reassess her style in dealing with
Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes, pictured at a roadshow
the police force and the public and to be more co-operative in her deal- ings with the panel from now on. In a statement, Mrs Barnes said:
“I would like to offer an apology to the hard-working men and women of Kent Police. I know some of them are upset about the docu-
mentary. The only reason I agreed to do the documentary was to help people better understand the role of police and crime commissioner. It is very complex and there are lots of challenges.
“Unfortunately I don’t think the programme did that.”
Art on show MEMBERS of one of the longest- running art groups in Maidstone are putting on a free exhibition of their work.
Mayor Sasha Luck and Kelly Holmes with pupils at the baton-passing Pupils welcome baton
THOUSANDS turned out to witness the Queen's Baton Relay ar- rive in Maidstone and Malling – two of five stops in Kent to mark the launch of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Dame Kelly Holmes, who lives in Tonbridge, led the team of six baton bearers, including John Simmonds, from Maidstone, as they arrived at Tonbridge Castle on June 5. There to greet her and guests, including Olympic medallist Lizzy Yarnold, was Tonbridge and Malling’s mayor Sasha Luck and about 1,000 children. The event was organised by
The baton has visited 69 of 70 Commonwealth nations and arrived in the UK on May 20.
It will visit 16 locations en route to its final journey to the start the Games in Glasgow.
Tonbridge and Malling Coun- cil and KCC with the aim of in- spiring youngsters to take up sport.
The XX Commonwealth Games start on July 23 and run until August 3.
England is sending a team of 400 to compete in 17 sports.
The fifth and final stop of the day was County Hall in Maidstone, where the team and guests were met by sports minister and Maid- stone MP Helen Grant and the Lord Lieutenant of Kent. Maria Heslop, Tonbridge and Malling Council’s cabinet member for leisure and youth, thanked the pupils who took part, adding: “I can’t think of a better way to wish Team England all the very best at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.”
In 1994 a group of graduates from the Kent Institute for Art and Design formed a group to bring new and exciting art forms to Kent. VIR-Art is still going strong, and will be staging In the Moment, a mixed media exhibition at Below 65 in the town centre. Artists in- clude Veronica Tonge, Sue Pritchard, Diane Sergeant, Janet Sturge and Paula Williams. The ex- hibition runs throughout July.
Cycling for fun KENT County Council has teamed up with British Cycling and Sky for a third year to bring a series of Sky Rides to the county. There’s a ride for everyone, whether you’re building your con- fidence or already comfortable on a bike and looking for a challenge. Rides scheduled for the Maid- stone area are: Sunday, July 10: Fusions Healthy Living Centre, figure of 8. Sunday, August 31: Fusions Healthy Living Centre, figure of 8. Sunday, September 7: Mote Park lakeside lap.
For details and to book, go to
www.goskyride.com/kent.
Drum concert
DRUMWISE is holding its annual drum concert at the Exchange Stu- dio in Maidstone from 6.30pm on Monday, July 7. Proceeds go to Demelza House children’s hospice.
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