News
Kent Police are ‘outstanding’
KENT Police has been rated out- standing in anational review of the country’s police forces. Kent was the only one of the 43
forces nationwide to receive the ac- colade in a report published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabu- lary (HMIC). The report rated Britain’s police service for the first time on how le- gitimate it is at keeping people safe and reducing crime. Kent’s police and crime commis-
sioner Ann Barnes, who has cham- pioned a move from target-led policing to a culture of putting peo- ple first, said shewas delighted with the result. She said: “I can’t remember any
HMIC inspection when just one force has been singled out for a top grading like this. This is great news for Kent Police.” The commissioner removed nu- merical targets from the Police and Crime Plan in 2014. She said: “Of all the HMIC re-
views that are undertaken, this par- ticular one is the most important one to the Chief Constable and me. I’m delighted this work, under his
determined, dynamic, leadership, has been recognised.” Zoe Billingham, Her Majesty’s In- spector for the Eastern Region, said of Kent Police: “Staff are actively en- couraged to use their discretion to ‘do the right thing’. The widespread understanding and implementation of an ethical culture across the force is having a positive effect on the service to the public.” She also praised the force’s use of
Taser and stop and search, aswell as efforts to support Kent Police staff – particularly those with mental health issues. Mrs Barnes said: “Kent is one of
the biggest forces in the land with very unique challenges, so it would be easy for the force to miss what is actually important – supporting and developing its workforce. I’m pleasedHMICrecognised that Kent Police has not lost sight of that.” HMIC considers a police force to
be legitimate if it has the consent of the public, and if those working in the force behave in away that is fair, ethical and within the law. The force must also generate the trust and co- operation of the public.
downsmail.co.uk Hospital passes on supplies
NURSES from Kims Hospital in Maidstone have had an early spring clean of their medical supplies store. The nurses have gathered together surplus equipment and donated it to
the charity Medical Aid International
www.medaid.co.uk. They handed over equipment including oxygen tubing, anaesthetic ma-
chine circuits, gloves, drapes, catheters, and spare crutches – enough to fill a transit van. The charity supports healthcare delivery in the developing world, recy- cling medical equipment from the West and send- ing it to countries and hospitals which need it. It works in over 20 countries and helps equip hospitals of all sizes, from those in the big cities to small rural clinics. Kims sister Lorraine Moxom said: “We are really pleased that our medical colleagues in these countries will be able to put this equipment to use, as they are often lo- cated in areas where it is very difficult to obtain supplies due to poor in- frastructure. Whilstwe don’t like to seewaste at Kims, all hospitals do end up with unused supplies, so this is a great way to recycle it.”
Matthew Bennett-Cook of Medical Aid International receives equipment from Tamara Stephens and Hannah Sanders
Mast ‘should be remembered’ A MAIDSTONE man has spoken of his dismay at the demolition of a WorldWar II mast that has decorated the Maidstone skyline for decades. David Jones, who admired the distant military installation off Cold-
blow Lane, Thurnham from hishomein Sutton Road for nearly 40 years says developers building homes on the site should erect a plaque or name the estate in tribute to the role the MOD installation had to the country’s security.
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Maidstone Town March 2016
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