News Officer ‘had
sex on duty’ A POLICE officer based in Maid- stone is to face a disciplinary hear- ing in private for allegedly having sex while on duty. The male officer, who Kent Police refuses to name, was taken off frontline duties after a woman made the complaint in June. She claimed that on a number of occa- sions between January and March 2014 he would arrive in his police car at her home in Maidstone and drive her to a rural location where they would have sex. The man is still employed by
Kent Police but in a back-office ca- pacity. The hearing in February will establish whether he is guilty of gross misconduct. The professional standards panel
has been undergoing an investiga- tion using police logs and phone records to see if they tally with the complainant’s claims. A police spokesman said the complainant could be called to at- tend the hearing. “It will be held in private and is
not open to the public,” he said. “It is only the one complainant, and she may or may not be called to at- tend the hearing. That will be as- sessed nearer the time.”
downsmail.co.uk
River festival ‘will go ahead without backing’
Continued from page one administration has become more complex. Despite a plea from the organiser
for pre-event publicity, Maidstone Council says it cannot lend its sup- port in 2015. The 2015 event clashes with the Ramblin’ Man Fair at Mote Park and council leader Annabelle Blackmore says there are insuffi- cient resources – both within the council and the police – to cope with two major events on the same date. Cllr Blackmore said: “The organ- isers failed to come up with a busi-
ness plan – and you cannot organ- ise this type of event without a plan. “We do not have the resources,
in terms of clean-up costs alone, to cover both these events.” Mark Smurthwaite, from Boughton Monchelsea, one of the three main drivers behind the 2014 “gathering” said plans were al- ready well advanced, with a local company keen to organise a raft race. The council asked the boaters if
they would change the date and hold the festival on the previous weekend. But Mark said: “It has
been held on that weekend for the past 35 years. “As far as I amconcerned, this is
just another excuse. “I’ve no idea why the council doesn’t support this event – it brought loads of people into town, who spent loads of money. There are plenty of businesses along the river which stand to benefit and, with a bit of sponsorship, it could be even better.” Maidstone Council says it is looking at ways of promoting events in the town centre – and making greater use of the river as an amenity and attraction.
Coffee shop plan revealed for hospital
COSTA Coffee is planning to open a new branch in Maidstone Hospital in the spring of next year. The chain will replace a store
room if a proposal is approved by Maidstone Council. The reception desk would be
moved, as would the toilet facili- ties, with the Maidstone Hospi- tal League of Friends getting a larger shop. A supporting statement said:
“The proposal will allow for en- hancedWCfacilities for patients and visitors within a signifi-
cantly less busy area away from the main hospital street. “Furthermore, the relocation of
these facilities will allow for a new convenient shop to inhabit the vacant space, which will bring in increased revenue for the trust.”
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