downsmail.co.uk Policing issue historic


THE editor’s comment last week on policing misses the point slightly. The fault lies not with this Government, but probably the past 20-odd years, possibly starting with New Labour’s mantra “Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”. What this meant was: tough on neither. Blair may have jailed a fair few, but the prisoners were sent to mollycoddling holiday camps run by disinterested private companies, where they were wet- nursed 24 hours a day and free to buy, sell and take drugs. I have been less than impressed with policing on the Shepway estate I represent. It may be so-called low-level crime, in the main, but that activity impinges on people’s lives. There have been two killings in the past couple of years, and the police did a commendable job on both. But we do not want our youngsters growing up in a place where violent deaths are considered normal. Law and order are no longer seen as important in a society when there is little respect for the police or the courts. But it is all too easy to throw one’s hands in the air and say that it is beyond repair. We have to live in a society where values are taught in the home, at school, in church, in youth clubs, community centres, the Scouts etc. We have to live in a society where the streets are policed; where arrest means something; where the courts act decisively and with the full weight of the law behind them. Sentences have to be served in full in institutions which are rehabilitating but correctional. Hopefully, those people emerging from prison will be able to turn themselves around. Yet some criminals commit crime to go back inside where they feel safe and looked after. That is perverse. Cllr Eddie Powell, Shepway South


Officers should get tough


YOU correctly (in my opinion) identify many of the failings of Kent Police. So many villagers in Marden say police are virtually invisible, difficult to get hold of and inefficient in their handling of incidents, particularly relating to socially


disruptive behaviour, minor violence, and car crime. Our railway station seems to be a hang-out for foul-mouthed yobs. I wish our police officers would take a look at the Spanish Guardia Civil who take no nonsense from anyone. They are thorough and remain remote in their dealings. Sometimes they appear intimidating, but nobody bad mouths them or remonstrates with them. They are totally respected (and a little feared) and people obey them. Please Kent Police can you try to emulate them? Colin Fry, Marden


Flats for our residents


AT Maidstone Borough Council’s Strategic, Planning and Infrastructure meeting on November 9, members mentioned time and again the need for social housing in the area.


So why are members approving deals for the council to buy houses/ats and then charging commercial rent? (Downsmail 283, MBC’s £5m property deal). Not forgetting the £19.1m spent on the Lockmeadow cinema complex. The houses/ats MBC buys should be for social housing and to help residents. Kate Hammond, Save Our Heath Land


Barber story a disgrace


AS A publication of previous good repute, I nd it disgraceful that you consider giving coverage, and therefore free advertising, to a barber who vows to defy the national lockdown for personal gain. In your story, the barber says: “It’s my business and my nances. I don’t agree with the instructions and I’ll be staying open”. Perhaps we should all adopt this selsh attitude and embrace anarchy. The lockdown is introduced to attempt to mitigate the ravages of COVID-19 at a time when NHS staff are, again, putting their lives on the line to care for others who are seriously ill, and when most of the nation’s population are making the sacrices required of them. Your news item falls outside of “fair and reasonable” reporting. To show a smiling barber in effect sticking his ngers up to the rest of the population is inexcusable.


THIS is what Downs Mail readers said on our Facebook page about a defiant barber from West Malling, Met Warwick, who said he would remain open throughout the second national lockdown…


Danielle Dixon: Good for you. Business owners need to stand up for themselves. This lockdown will destroy businesses. If schools can stay open why can’t people work?


Jo Caprile Lane: As this Government attempts to bring small businesses to their knees, we need more brave people who stand up for their rights. We only need to look at Sweden to see not locking down can pro- duce a more favourable outcome. If people


46


Your paper should be ashamed of the mediocre standards it now embraces in an attempt to ll column space. Next time I see a free issue, I will leave it where it deserves to stay. Bob Warwick, via email


Child support in lockdown


SINCE lockdown measures were rst introduced, Childline has delivered nearly 43,000 counselling sessions, with children reaching out for help with issues including loneliness and low self-esteem. The NSPCC, which runs Childline, can also reveal that the number of contacts about body image, gender and sexuality increased since the rst national lockdown began at the end of March.


Childline’s volunteer counsellors have heard from many children who, after being cut off from important support networks, shared that they were feeling isolated, anxious and insecure. Now with a second lockdown underway, Childline is launching a new campaign called Nobody is Normal. It aims to help children understand that lacking condence, feeling not good enough or that you don’t t in, is a shared experience. Childline is encouraging them not to suffer in silence. Since lockdown measures were rst introduced in March, the monthly average number of Childline counselling sessions about eating and body image disorders increased by almost a third (32%) on the pre-lockdown average. The monthly average number of sessions on sexuality and gender identity increased by 16%. Some children have developed unhealthy eating behaviours for the rst time such as binge eating and bulimia nervosa, and those with existing eating disorders have experienced worsened symptoms, or a relapse.


The Nobody is Normal campaign encourages any children feeling unable to discuss their anxiety and distress to reach out to Childline for support. We want them to feel condent to express their fears and share their worries, and know Childline is still here for them. Maria Montgomery, NSPCC community fundraising manager


don't want to visit they don't have to.


Joe Gurnett: He has nothing to lose. Either go bankrupt or get a fine. Stand up for your rights.


John M Smith: You cannot cherry pick which laws to fol- low. If you do, then be pre- pared for the consequences.


Joshua Mellor: It’s irresponsible and will be shut down by police.


Angela Briscoe: If we want to be able to go back to how things were, we


need to abide by the rules and at the moment that is he needs to close. I do hope no one gets ill by disobeying the rules.


Comment


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