The poll results from this year’s Kent Police Open Day and Kent County Show are in, with it plans and expectancies for the future regarding budget cuts, a development in the Community Support Officer scheme, Mobile Police Stations, and increased implementation of a Neighbourhood Watch.
In light of a further cut in Kent Police’s Government funding by another 4.9% this year (equivalent to about £8 million), 90% of voters showed displeasure at that Kent Police is facing further cuts after major ones were already implemented in 2011. While the cuts are sure to affect policing done in Kent, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes remains adamant in minimising and challenging them.
A total of 60 Police Community Support Officers have been set in place across Kent in an effort to strengthen police visibility, an effort that was rewarded by 79.5% of voters giving feedback of “good” or “excellent”. Furthermore, the implementation of six extra Mobile Police Stations, vehicles that will tour the county to visit 180 locations twice each month and act as a point of contact to the police, has received green light. Also boosting police visibility around Kent, and unique in its access to more remote locations around the county, the Mobile Police Stations have been praised by 80% of those who voted.
A point of contention in the poll was the effectiveness of local Neighbourhood Watches, where 55.7% were of the mind that awareness of the watch is “good” or “excellent”, while 44.3% thought it was “ok” or “bad”. To meet the expectations of those dissatisfied with the service, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner announced that volunteers of the watch were actively coming together to improve their schemes and visibility within their community.
An idea present in the poll, which so far has yet to be realised was the introduction of a Youth Commissioner. While there are no immediate plans for a Youth Commissioner, 60% of voters continue to support the idea, it remains a concept to be pursued in future.