search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
News News


Police ‘lack time for local crime’


VILLAGES across the West Malling region are becoming in- creasingly concerned about the lack of policing in their area. Public representatives claim offi-


cers are being spread to thinly and asked to cover toomany patches to be effective in any single one. Councillors and community lead-


Anotherincursion at Larkfield park


ers, who do not criticise the police officers themselves, are increasingly angry that thepublic are askedtodo the police’s job. Snodland Town Council’s chief executive Karen Sowten (left) said the town’s two


fami- in-


volv ed have been offering tree felling services to residents in the area. Parish


As well as a lack of manpower, she feels police have lost their grasp


council chairman


police and local councils. prec dence.


which


PCSOs, share


their duties else- where, did their best, but were not enough.


David Thornewell says more has to on effective community policing,


be done to stop the travelling com- with a more generic strategy on is-


sisting with national initiatives, but as far as the day-to-day crimes that


munity running circles around the sues such as anti-terrorism taking


ellers for a second time will run into thousands of pounds The last inci- dent, in early summer, costing the parish council £1,200, with the trav-


He says the job ofmoving on trav- She said: “Officers seem to be as-


TRAVELLERS have moved back onto a popular park in Larkfield for the second time in six months. The families - in five caravans - pulled on to


Gighill Green in


Lunsford Lane on Sunday October ,, releasing dogs on the popular public open space and setting up washing lines within hours. It is un- derstood the lies


ellers simply moving on to take up temporary residence elsewhere in the area. He said: “They just seem to be


go on in a community, it seems offi- cers really don’t want or have the time to get involved and have very little powers.” CllrBobUlph, atLeybourne, said:


“When it comes to neighbourhood policing, we are being asked to get the information needed by the po- lice, rather than them being pro- active in supporting us.” He has become so concerned he


has been invited tomeet Kent’s Po- lice andCrimeCommissioner (PCC) MatthewScott. Trudy Dean, Liberal Democrat


county councillor for the Malling area, said: “There needs to bemore clarity about what officers are and aren’t able to police. In that way, local authorities and communities can look at hiringpeople to tackle is- sues that are of concern to them.


doing the rounds. These incidents have affectedWest Malling, forcing the closure of the village hall, and Leybourne, and now they are back in Larkfield. The police told resi- dents that this was a civil trespass when they reported it and that they couldn’t do anything and obviously the council offices were closed be- cause it was the weekend. These travellers know and play the sys- tem.” The council’s legal team served an eviction notice but it took aweek to enforce. Cllr Thornewell held talks with Laddingford Engineering in an effort to increase security further on the public land, near the M20. Valdemar Kalinin (pictured), of


the National Gypsy-Traveller-Roma Council said recently that local councils must provide designated traveller sites or “tolerated zone” which gypsy convoys can move onto. He said: “It comes down to racial prejudice against this com- munity.”


“The police also need to recognise


thepublic is important andcan help, but when they spend 40 minutes trying to get through on the 101 service, this will not last and can only lead to less trust in the police.” There has been widespread con-


cern voiced across the region by parish councils about a lack of at- tendance by PCSOs at their meet- ings. “It means they do not get any idea of the real issues facing our community,” said one councillor. PCCMr Scott said he had in-


creased police officer numbers by 271 and retained 300 PCSOs. Mr Scott added: “Our senior offi-


cers officers have given clear direc- tion that these local officers should be engaging with parish councils, and very recently I met with coun- cillors who told me Kent Police is muchmore accessible than in previ- ous years.” But the respectedCollege ofPolic-


inghas also articulatedconcerns. Su- perintendent James Lunn said: “Neighbourhood policing has changed and diversified over the years…therewas a sense that some focus had been lost onwhat is effec- tive andwhatworks."


downsmail.co.uk downsmail.co.uk


‘A prisoner in my own home’


CAROL Boot moved to Snodland from Caterham, in Surrey, in March to be near her daughter, but her house is already on themarket. She says teenagers have made


her life a misery because of a lack ofpolice intervention.Shehasnow disconnected her doorbell, and stays indoors formuch of the day. She said: “If I’dmurdered some-


‘Spooktacular’ at the farm


MAKE the most of the October half-term holiday at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park’s Halloween Spooktacular in Maidstone. Brave kids are invited to the vintage village to knock on doors and


one, I’d have more freedom. I’m a prisoner in my own home, while thepolicewon’t act to control these kids who are terrorising the High Street.” Mrs Boot has reports of Snod-


discover who – or what – is lurking behind them from October 21-31. The award-winning attraction at Sandling, near Maidstone, has a few


other tricks up its sleeve to turn its usual exhibits into frightening farmhouses and horrifying homes. Youngsters can try pumpkin carving, dressing up and the Ugly Bug Ball. On October 25, there will be more spooky goings-on with Kent Life


5-6pm and, for older visitors, from 7-8pm. If you would like to know more about any of the above, call 01622 763936.


land residents moving into back rooms to avoid harassment from the street. The 66-year-old said: “When I


After Dark, This event includes a spine-chilling tour suitable for under-eights from


used my phone to call the police while being confronted by one of the girls, she took it off me and swore down the phone at them. “The police, such as there is,


have given up andwe are leftwith a PCSOwith no powers.”


WINDOWS & DOORS REQUIRING T.L.C? DON’T REPLACE THEM MAINTAIN THEM!


MAINTAINING YOUR EXISTING WINDOWS & DOORS IS CONSIDERABLY MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THAN REPLACING. UPGRADING TO ENERGY EFFICIENT BFRC A & B RATED GLASS WILL HELP SAVE YOU MONEY ON BILLS.


Fairdeal are local specialists in the repair, upgrade and maintenance of double glazed windows and doors.


We repair PVCu, Aluminium & Timber


 





Fogged double glazed glass units - replaced with energy rated glass


Handles & mechanisms repaired & replaced


Window and door hinges and stays


 Leak and draught repairs “


Celebrating over 25 years of continuous trading


We were pleased with the work Fairdeal Windows previously carried out on our porch, so we went back to them for windows. We are very pleased with the windows and the installers. We couldn't fault the work they carried out plus they left everything clean and tidy. Thanks to all the staff too.


We supply & install windows, doors & conservatories including UPVC fascias, soffits & guttering


” Call 01622 902005


FOR FAST FRIENDLY QUOTES & ADVICE www.fairdealwindows.co.uk


Find us at: Unit K, Orchard Business Centre, 20/20 Industrial Estate, Aylesford, Kent ME16 0JZ


Follow us on


6 10


Malling October 2017 Malling August 2018


Mr H. - Snodland


 


Local Authority Approved NO Call out charge with Free Quotations & Advice


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40