News

Neighbourhood policing teams in the east of Folkestone have responded to concerns about drugs in the community and made three arrests.

A man was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply after a number of 'wraps' were allegedly found when officers searched the address in Hill Road. A woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis. They are currently on bail while officers make further enquiries.

Meanwhile a  man was arrested at an address in Fleming Way on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine. He has been formally cautioned for the offence.

The warrants were carried out following information provided by the community to the neighbourhood policing team in east Folkestone, including PCSO Janet Rumley.

Anyone concerned about drug abuse and dealers in their neighbourhood can contact their local neighbourhood policing team. Contact details can be found on the Kent Police website www.kent.police.uk or by phoning 01303 289271.

PSCO Janet Rumley can be contacted on 07989 992463.

If you want to remain anonymous, call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Anyone who wants support to beat drug addiction can contact the Kent Council for Addiction on 01304 211999 or email: dover@kca.org.uk

Police in Folkestone are appealing for information after a collection of silverware was discovered in a holdall.

A passer-by found the holdall on an embankment opposite the Marine Crescent car park, which backs on to the Road of Remembrance in Folkestone.

It includes teapots, candleholders, and a silver tray with the following engraved on it: PRESENTED TO EX COMP. J.F. WEIR IN APPRECIATION OF HIS SERVICES AS M.E.Z. OF THE LONDON CHAPTER NO. 3427 1965-66.

There was also a carriage clock made by Chas Frodsham, 'Colackmaker to H.M. the King.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Shepway East Neighbourhood Policing Team on 01303 289271
 

Dear Editor,

Re: Clamping down on boozing youngsters  

In talking to teenagers it comes out that groups of friends of 16/17 regularly meet at different bars and clubs around Folkestone and end up under the weather.

It seems to me that, rather than wait until trouble has started on the streets, Police were to check in clubs and bars throughout the town for underage drinkers.

I am sure that many places do make an effort to check on the age of customers but there are a significant number that appear not to.

Peter

Kent Police chief constable, Mike Fuller has warned the home secretary Jacqui Smith, that his force is struggling to cope with “migration surges” that are leading to increased crime, reports the Times Online.

The website article claims that in a leaked private letter, chief constable Mike Fuller, tells Smith the government’s failure to provide extra funds to match the influx of immigrants will have a “negative impact on performance”.

He says he will need more than 500 extra constables if the population increase caused by immigration continues.

In his letter to the home secretary dated October 22 last year, the police chief reportedly states: “I feel it is essential that I set out the impact that population growth is having in Kent and the pressure it is placing on finite resources.”

He estimates 78% of the population growth is accounted for by migration. This has contributed to a rise of more than a third in violent crimes over five years to about 7,800 incidents last year. He estimates the total additional cost to the force to be £34m over the past three years, but claims increases in funding from the Home Office have failed to keep pace.

In his letter he warns that government predictions about immigration and population growth have proved unreliable. He concludes: “There is a danger that if the future funding regime fails to respond to dynamic changes in migration the extra demand this generates will impact negatively on performance.”

The Chief Constable warns that Kent suffers special problems policing the ferry ports and Channel tunnel. “As the gateway to Europe, Kent has unique geographical status which places additional strain on limited resources.” Fuller is not the first police chief to complain that government funding is failing to take account of rising immigration. Julie Spence, of Cambridgeshire police, warned last year that new arrivals, often from eastern Europe, had left her force struggling to deal with certain offences including knife crime and drink driving. She said immigrant communities had “different standards” from the UK.

Ashford MP Damian Green, Conservative immigration spokesman, said ministers had misled the public: “This is clear evidence that all over the country public services have found it impossible to cope with the unplanned and rapid rise in population over the past few years.

“This is another largely rural police force which is having to spend money on translation services and cope with extra pressures caused by fast rates of immigration. Without properly controlled immigration this problem will only get worse.”

Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the home affairs committee, said: “Mike Fuller raises very important issues concerned with the changing needs of local areas as a result of migration. It is important that in looking at funding formulas the government understands that there are pressures that need to be addressed. We will be looking at this issues when we launch our forthcoming inquiry into policing.”

Fuller, Britain’s first black chief constable, is regarded as a high-flyer. He recently qualified as a barrister, training in his spare time, and has been tipped as a future Metropolitan police commissioner.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We will consider any evidence provided by the police.”

A police community support officer (PCSO) from Cheriton (Folkestone) has paid a visit to a playgroup that was wrecked by vandals last summer.

Jane Marshall (Deputy Manager of Morehall Playgroup) and PCSO Keith Sansum

PCSO Keith Sansum was invited to Morehall Pre School Playgroup to talk to the youngsters about keeping safe while out and about and on the roads.

The youngsters aged three and four also asked PCSO Sansum questions about his uniform and what they should do if they get lost or feel scared.

The Morehall playgroup has been transformed since it was trashed by a group of youths at the start of August 2007.

When the playgroup leaders opened the doors following the summer break on Monday 6 August they were confronted by a scene of destruction with 12 smashed windows, paint thrown over floors, walls, toilets, toys, books and their computer.

The neighbourhood policing team in Cheriton including PCSO Chloe Chandler, PCSO Keith Sansum, PCSO Mark Ball, PC Ian Peebles and officers from the crime investigation unit launched an investigation to track down the offenders.

Within a week police had arrested four male youths aged 10, 12, 13 and 14 and a female youth aged 14 on suspicion of committing the damage. The youths were questioned and each was issued with a Final Warning whilst in the presence of their parents, which will stay on police records until they are 18, or for five years, whichever is longer.

To be issued with a Final Warning means that any further offending behaviour will result in charges being brought, in all but the most exceptional circumstances and if they are convicted of a further offence within the next two years, they can in most cases expect a more serious sentence.

Since the damage to the playgroup they have managed to get the floor and much of the equipment replaced and are grateful to local residents, shops and Folkestone Town Council for their generosity.

Morehall Playgroup caters for 36 pre-school aged local children and opens five days a week. For more information contact Melanie Ashford on 01303 270187.

PCSO Keith Sansum is one of the PCSOs that covers Morehall and Cheriton and can be contacted on 07772 226208.

 

The Friends of Selsted School (FOSS) are getting a cash boost from the Kent Police Property Fund.

Back L to R: Head teacher Kevin Bailey, PCSO Sarah Wallace and Sarah Redmond of FOSS. Front L to R: Selsted pupils: L to R Elizabeth Todd Brown, Richard Stroud, Brooke Laing and Louie Evans

FOSS is a registered charity that supports Selsted School, a small rural primary school between Hawkinge and Canterbury that has around 70 pupils, with fundraising for the extra things that enhance the children's school experience.

Local Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Sarah Wallis presented a cheque for £400 from the fund during school assembly on Wednesday 16 January to help pay for some chairs for the new Community Hall which opened in 2005.

It will mean the hall will be a good local resource and will enable the local community to make much better use of the facility.

The Kent Police Property fund is made up of the proceeds from the sale, at auction, of unclaimed lost property and items seized in police operations.

The proceeds raised at the auction are presented to local charitable groups that work for the good of the local community, and around £7,000 is donated in the South Kent area each year.

Local Police Community Support Officer Sarah Wallis said: "It is a pleasure to be able to present the Friends of Selsted School with a cheque from the Kent Police Property Fund."

"FOSS provide important support to the school and its pupils and I know the donation will make a big difference." She added.