News

Residents are being advised by Kent Police to keep their belongings safe this summer, as temperatures soar.

In the fight against flytipping in Kent, the Clean Kent Campaign has joined forces with the national crime fighting charity Crimestoppers.
 

PC Trevor Moody security marking a bike

They have organised a free security-marking event in the Bouverie Place Shopping Centre in Folkestone on Saturday 10 January between 11 am and 3 pm.

PC Trevor Moody and PCSO John Knight will be on hand to mark any valuable item including mobile phones, MP3 players, games consoles, Sat Navs, cameras, laptops, and even larger items like bikes and scooters.

They will mark postcodes and house numbers using a UV pen which is invisible to the naked eye but can be read under a special UV light and will help to identify the owner if the item is lost or stolen.

A sticker can also be placed on the items to show it has been marked which acts as a deterrent to thieves.

PC Trevor Moody said: "We are looking forward to meeting people on 10th January and hope they bring their Christmas presents and other valuables to be marked."

"I would like to thank the management of Bouverie Place for letting us use one of their units to do the marking and we really appreciate their help."

If you are unable to attend the event you can contact your neighbourhood officer or KCC Warden to ask about security marking in your neighbourhood.

To find out who your neighbourhood officer is look on the Kent Police website: www.kent.police.uk.

PCSO Mark Ball, PCSO Janet Rumley and PCSO Sarah Wallace in Folkestone town centre

They will be giving away Kent Police purse clips and Safer Winter information leaflets and will also be asking people to complete questionnaires about their neighbourhoods to see if they have any concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour.

They will also be offering free security marking to anybody who brings their valuables like bikes, mobile phones, sat navs, MP3 players, cameras, and so on.

Having valuables security-marked is helpful as it acts as a deterrent and makes it easier for police to identify the rightful owners if property is lost or stolen.

They will be at the following locations

Monday 15th December: 10 am to 4 pm, Cheriton

Wednesday 17th December: 2.30 pm to 6 pm, Folkestone town centre

Friday 19th December:2 pm to 6 pm, Lidl at Hawkinge

Saturday 20th December: 10 am to 4 pm, Folkestone town centre.

PCSO Janet Rumley who has co-ordinated the roadshows said: "We're looking forward to meeting people out and about to promote the Safer Winter campaign. Anyone is welcome to bring an item to be security marked absolutely free."
 

A special initiative aimed at combating the loss and theft of purses in the district is being launched in Dover today (13 December).

Representatives of the Dover District Community Safety Partnership will be in Dover Town Centre from 10am to 3pm to hand out free ‘Clip it Safe’ lanyards (clips for attaching a purse to a handbag).

Operation Wave is a Dover District Community Safety Partnership initiative. The partnership is supporting this initiative to enhance the safety and quality of life of residents and visitors who shop in our town centres. All residents and visitors are encouraged to look after their property and this is especially true at this time of year.

The Community Safety Unit has found that there has been an increase in the loss of purses and a small increase in the theft of purses in our town centres. To encourage the security of purses, the partnership has purchased the ‘Clip it Safe’ lanyards to be distributed free of charge.

Operation Wave will be launched in Deal and Sandwich Town Centres in the new year.

Kent Police is launching a weapons surrender as part of the Safer Spring campaign.

Anyone can hand in any type of weapon, from bladed instruments to firearms, real or imitation, to police.

Weapons can be handed in at local police stations but in addition, Neighbourhood officers can be contacted to arrange a visit to people’s homes to take the weapons from them safely. This can also be used as an opportunity for people to raise any issues or concerns they have within their communities with their neighbourhood officers.

The scheme runs from 25 March until 20 April, and follows a similar initiative by the Metropolitan Police Service launched in January of this year.

Superintendent Peter Wedlake of the Force’s Partnership and Crime Reduction department said: ‘It is important to note that crime involving weapons in Kent is very low. However, we want to take as many weapons as possible off the streets of Kent. Any weapon handed to police is one that cannot be used in crime.

‘This is also an opportunity for anyone who has a weapon they think may be illegal or do not want to keep in their possession any longer to hand it to police, thereby ensuring its safe disposal. We would urge people to ring or visit their local police station to make an appointment for an officer to visit their address at their convenience to remove that weapon safely. Alternatively, please call at your local police station to hand over your unwanted weapons.’

The scheme follows a successful knife amnesty run by Kent Police in 2006, where people responded very positively to the disposal of knives. Just under 4000 bladed instruments were handed in to local police stations throughout the campaign.

During the campaign, Kent Police will be working closely with Kent and Medway Trading Standards, and visiting retailers to educate them on selling knives and ball bearing guns.

It is illegal to manufacture, import or sell realistic imitation guns. Action will be taken against anyone selling knives or imitation firearms illegally.

Officers will also be working with the Local Education Authorities, distributing leaflets and posters to secondary schools to educate students on this weapons surrender. Officers will continue to push key education messages around the county, which will include clear messages about what can happen if you are caught carrying a weapon.

Carrying a knife can result in a prison sentence of six months and/or a £5,000 fine. Carrying an imitation firearm can result in a prison sentence of 12 months - this applies to BB guns, blank firing pistols, cap guns, collectibles, ‘airsoft’ guns, airguns and other items that resemble a gun.

Superintendent Wedlake continued: ‘Anyone carrying a weapon illegally will be dealt with by police and the courts. Carrying a weapon will not be tolerated. Imitation guns can look very realistic and can create fear and distress in the community. It is illegal to carry any weapon in public, whether it is a realistic imitation or not, and armed police could be called to respond.

‘Research shows that if you carry a weapon you are in danger of becoming a victim yourself, or being arrested by police and facing a prison sentence. We want to make Kent a safer place in which to live and this campaign is a chance for anyone to hand in any weapon they are in possession of.’

Anyone wanting details on how to surrender weapons should contact their local police station.

Anyone wishing to report the misuse of weapons or who has any information on illegal weapons or crime can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Calls to Crimestoppers are free and you could be eligible for a cash reward.