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Maidstone Borough Council 11 MaidSafe


Our Community Safety Unit has been working closely with the MaidSafe Business Crime Partnership, a not for profit organisation that also works in partnership with Kent Police, Town Centre Management, traders and the CCTV centre to help protect our residents, visitors and businesses. Over the festive period, the Town Centre Management team coordinated a new initiative designed to highlight how easy it is for people to fall victim to pickpockets – all with the help of a little magic!


Magician Paul Fowler was hired to raise awareness of how easy it is to get close to people and potentially pick their pockets. He slipped card templates of everyday items such as smartphones, wallets and tablets into people’s pockets each bearing messages warning people ‘If someone can get this into your pocket, they can also get it out’.


Being pick pocketted is something that can happen to anybody. MaidSafe’s Peter Cackett said: “At this time of year, people are preoccupied and don’t pay attention to their belongings as they should. Hopefully this will make them aware of how vulnerable they are.”


An easy way to prevent purse theft is to use a purse chain that connects to your bag, and to ensure that your bag is securely done up. You can also record your mobile IMEI number by keying *#06# to get your 15 digit number, and keeping the number safe. More helpful tips on keeping your belongings safe are available on www.kent.police.uk/advice/home/detb ur.html.


MaidSafe provides support to businesses via a radio scheme that is linked to CCTV cameras and the police,


helping to deter crime and prevent anti social behaviour in the town. Other projects that MaidSafe is involved with contribute to a presence in the town centre on Saturday nights, including the Urban Blue Bus on Jubilee Square which provides medical help, dedicated Taxi Marshals at the Hackney Taxi Rank at the top of Gabriels Hill from 2- 4am and the Street Pastors who are available to provide emotional support throughout the town. For more information, visit www.maidsafe.org.uk.


Government finance settlement


Register to vote


There are two elections this May – one for a third of the seats on Maidstone Borough Council, and another for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner. The EU Referendum is also expected later in 2016. Make sure you can vote by registering at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You’ll need your National Insurance number (if you have one) and about 5 minutes.


It’s especially important to do this if you’ve moved house since the last election, as you’ll still be registered at your last address!


The deadline for registering to vote for the elections in May is Monday 18 April, while the deadline to request a postal vote is Tuesday 19 April.


Maidstone council always plans extremely carefully for its financial future and manages its resources well so that we can continue to provide the services and deliver projects that matter most to our communities. In response to Government cuts – our main grant has reduced by 59% since 2010 – we have saved millions of pounds by being innovative and working with our partners and the community.


However, the most recent Government funding announcement is set to put even more pressure on our budget, with Maidstone council receiving one of the worst settlements in the country. Our main grant for 2016/17 has been substantially cut from that


predicted, and will be eliminated the following year – two years earlier than expected. The Government will also take away a huge proportion of the business rate that is currently retained locally. £7.4 million of savings will need to be found by 2021.


Councillors and officers are doing everything they can to generate income and make further savings while protecting not only those services that we have to provide, but also those that make the borough such an attractive place to live and where businesses can thrive and grow. Maidstone council has a strong record of innovation and will work hard to minimise the impact of the budget cuts on its residents.


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