Thank you to all those who took the time to fill out my Crime and Antisocial Behaviour Survey, the feedback is very welcome.
I have heard back from hundreds of constituents, in every ward across Maidstone, and such high levels of participation confirm to me the importance of this issue in the minds of local people.
Many people cited a heightened concern for safety at night-time, compared with daylight hours, in certain areas of Maidstone – such as Week Street, Brenchley Gardens, and King George V Park. I agree with the general view that the presence of police patrols and traffic wardens alongside better lighting in the streets will improve the safety for all and to that end I welcome the significant increases in police numbers we are seeing in Maidstone. Nevertheless, I recognise the need for better visibility of officers, and I will continue to push for more Police on the beat.
Other points raised include the menacing use of e-scooters on pavements, vandalism of bus shelters, and fly tipping in areas of Dover Road, Fant Lane and Elmstone Lane.
All of this valuable information is now being raised directly with Maidstone Borough Council, Kent County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Kent Police in my regular meetings with them. Indeed, I met with the Chief Inspector just last week to discuss an action plan to address the concerns voiced by yourself and many other constituents in my survey.
