Mike, Ashford
It seems to me that there are two real problems which need tackling at the root cause: 1- Like all walks of life, we are being bound tighter and tighter by red tape. Do you support my view that we need to take a few steps back, let common sense prevail and get back to doing the job rather than supplying endless facts in case they may be needed one day? If so, how will you help to do this? 2 - Many parents seem to take the view that the police and teachers are there to relieve them of their own parental responsibilities. Do you believe that they need educating to remind them of their correct role, to bring their children up as decent citizens, not leave it to others and realise that they are responsible for their childrens' misdemeanours?
Tue Jan 20 05:41:07 2004
Adrian Russell, Chatham,Kent
The lack of resources is causing a downward spiral. The lawless know they are more likely to get away with it, and therefore break the law with impunity. It is the fear of getting caught that prevents crime. The powers that be can quote clear up figures all they like. There must be a tendency to only bother if you know it will be a plus in the clear up figures. At least this is the impression the ordinary people are getting. Figures prove nothing to us. We are there and see what is really happening.Until we SEE change, we will not be impressed. I sincerely hope you do make a difference - to the people, not the pen pushers.
Mon Jan 12 20:00:01 2004
Retired Police Officer Dover
Intelligence based policying in Kent has been tried on a number of times through out the last 30 years and each time has given way to public pressure to see more officers on the beat. Chief Constable, your current police model requires beat officers to be taken off their traditional street duties where they can be seen to be preventing and detecting crime, You have not got the establishment to successfully carry out both intelligence based and traditional policing in Kent.To regain public confidence in your police service you must comply with the wishes of the people you serve. Chief Constable Barry Paine had the right idea. In his day the morale of your police officers was high and the public received a very high standard of policing in Kent. Mr Ayling is, or should be aware of Mr Paine's successful policing methodes. Your comments please.
Thu Jan 8 12:54:42 2004
David Froud - Maidstone
Now that the people have made it clear that they would prefer the Police to target criminals rather than victims will we see this reflected in the actions of Kent Police?
Thu Jan 8 09:28:53 2004
Neil, Folkestone
Whilst walking past Folkestone police station I saw a dark blue Volvo estate car with unifromed police officers inside, I assume this was an unmarked police traffic car. What is the law regarding them being able to stop a driver in respect that they are not in a fully marked police car. I remember a few years back hearing a news report of a criminal(s) pretending to be police officers in unmarked cars.
Thu Jan 8 09:06:36 2004
Slavka, Folkestone
Have you been promoted on merit, or because of the report stating that Institutional racism is rife in the Force. Have the powers to be elevated you, to show that they are trying to change?
Wed Jan 7 16:28:47 2004
keith sanders tonbridge
a great deal of crime is directly linked to alocohol and drug abuse. What links exist or are planned to be developed with organisation seeking to address these problem,s such as alcoholic anonymous.
Wed Jan 7 15:30:15 2004
Angela, Strood
A popular topic it would seem; I live in the Marlowe Park area of Strood, which is in the grip of teenage gangs it would seem. Our bus shelters are constantly vandalised, as our telephone boxes and cars. The brick walls in our area are kicked down and the bricks used for further vandalism. On top of this the residents of this area are feel too intimidated by these 'children' to walk their dogs or use the local shops after dark. This is unacceptable and anti-social behaviour and furthermore unfair to the residents who just want to live in peace. What can we do? What can you do?
Tue Jan 6 20:39:04 2004
E Hammond, Tonbridge
The police service is funded by the community and yet for many years has become more and more remote from the community it serves and dismissive of local needs. Police seem either to be hiding in police stations or just passing by in cars. Get them out on the streets talking to the people they should be serving, and getting to know the young people who cause so much of the anti social behaviour that plagues so many people's lives.
Tue Jan 6 16:38:22 2004
Tim Sherwood, Sidcup
You said on Tv that you are determined to tackle anti-social crime. How exactly do you propose to do so when there seem to be no consequences these days for either children or adults who break the law at these levels.
Tue Jan 6 10:55:15 2004
John Buddel prory school
What things are you going to change around kent now that your cheif ?
Tue Jan 6 08:59:51 2004
Mrs Patricia Martin, Dover
Sir, Could you please confirm that you will continue to support Neighbourhood Watch.
Mon Jan 5 18:53:46 2004
D. Andrews, Kent
Is it possible with limited cash, to deal with litter louts
and dumpers as we seem to be living in a rubbish tip especially near Night clubs and Public houses outside of city centres.This is something I am most concerned about. Thank you
Mon Jan 5 16:45:05 2004
Linda, Barham, nr Canterbury
Will our new chief constable consider reinstating the resident village policeman? We had a police officer living in our village until a few years ago, but when he retired he was not replaced, the police house was sold and now all we have is a community policeman/woman's answering machine to report minor crime to, which is not followed up until days later,thus negating any chance of apprehension of offenders (usually kids) and/or dishing out a few words of warning, which can often nip in the bud any further bad behaviour, and prevent young people from going onto more serious crime in the future.
Mon Jan 5 16:25:33 2004
Anthony H Ashford Kent
I live with my wife and three children on Stanhope Estate in Ashford and there is a problem with a group of youths ranging from 12-16 who cause a lot of criminal damage in the area. We have had bricks thrown at our kitchen window and even had our front door kicked in by them but the police seem powerless to do anything about it. Instead they look at the easy option and say that there is nothing they can do about it. It is making our lives a misery and we cannot even let our children out in the back garden to play because the last time they went out they had eggs thrown at them and they are only 5,7 and 9 years old. what do you propose to do about the problems in the area because it can be a nice place to live but the minority make it a troublespot for the majority.
Mon Jan 5 15:53:47 2004
Diprose,Paddock Wood
When will action be taken to bring an end to the persistent vandalism being experienced in Paddock Wood Town Centre?
Mon Jan 5 15:52:57 2004
Michael Cambridgeshire
We note that a high value property is currently unoccupied on the outskirts of our residential area, but noted in the Sunday press that a retired High Sheriff of Kent was not well looked after in the face of burglars. Are the customs of Kent readily understood and compatible fully understood and well compatible with major property and strategic concerns as HRA understood?
Mon Jan 5 15:48:06 2004
Steven Ferguson, Maidstone
Young people across Kent have raised Community Safety as a key issue that needs to be sorted urgently as they feel unsafe to use public transport or go into town in the evenings because of the risk of being a victim. What can Kent Police do to help the young people and the public as a whole to feel safer in Kent?
Mon Jan 5 15:46:10 2004
Cllr Janet Sergison, Hadlow, Kent
You have made a commitment to improve policing in rural areas. How soon can we expect to see an increase in the number of Police Community Support Officers in our villages?
Mon Jan 5 15:41:33 2004
Roger, Margate, Kent.
Margate (my home town) has a lot of annoying and usually petty crime...Cars being broken into, shoplifting and burglary etc.
It is my opinion that the Government and the police's attitude to going soft on the drug problem is fueling this sort of behavior. In other words these people have to get the money for drugs from somewhere and they resort to crime to feed their habit. Would it not be more sensible to take a hard line with these people?
Mon Jan 5 15:32:33 2004
Colin, Ashford
As the largest force area in the Country without helicopter support, what plans do you have to establish an Air Operations Unit in line with Home Office policy? Support from surrounding forces cannot be guaranteed if their aircrft are in use, and the nearest unit is 15 minutes flying time even just to get to the Kent border. If Sussex, Surrey, the Met and Essex all regard Air Support as a necessity, surely Kent cannot afford to dismiss such a project. I understand that Home Office funding is available to help offset the capital investment in a helicopter, and the revenue cost is affordable even to a force as small as Surrey (new unit opening April 2004).
Mon Jan 5 15:32:10 2004
Jane, Tunbridge
My question is (rephrased)- will you look into how the probation service is working - particulary in regards to drug related offences, especially if these are combined with behavioural/mental health issues. Could young offenders and young adults on probation - be taken to prisons and to hospices to see where the road can end ? How about random drugs testing while they are on probation ? It seem that offenders on probation can refuse to engage with substances misuse workers, can anything be done about this ? My experience is that probation as it is now - for young adults with drug addiction - is not doing enough - to help reeducate a way of thinking or as a deterrant. Would it be possible to look into a reform of how the probation service works ?
Mon Jan 5 14:40:41 2004
Albert, Sittingbourne
What are you going to do about the ever increasing serious problem of motorists who are obstructing public pavements with their vehicles, it is now becoming normal practice to park on pavements even when there is no need for it. It is the duty of the police to see that the publics safety is not put at risk by these inconsiderate drivers. It is also now common to see vehicles pared on zebra crossings, double yellow lines, bends,in fact anywhere and everywhere all because your police force are doing nothing about it, come on chief superintendant lets have some zero tolerance and keep our pavements and footpaths safe for the public to walk on.
Mon Jan 5 14:15:18 2004
PW, Hawkinge
1. Speed cameras. Are you bold enough to follow the Durham Constabulary and remove fixed speed cameras. There is little evidence that they reduce accidents - or do you need the money from the fines? 2. Rural Crime. Our village shop/post office along with several others around here get attacked/robbed. We never hear of any police interest or results. Centralised intelligence doesnt appear to work. Where are the local patrols?
Mon Jan 5 14:04:23 2004
Colin, Bearsted
During an interview with the Superintendent at Swale police in 2001, he told me that that the then Chief Constable considered that he led a Police Force not a Police Service. There is an extremely important difference in the two philosophies, which of the two does Mr Fuller believe he now leads?
Mon Jan 5 14:00:09 2004
Stuart, Hastings
Arm all Police and bring back the Death Penalty
Mon Jan 5 13:55:55 2004
jane, tunbridge
The probation service does not seem to be working - youths/young adults have no respect for it. It only does the absolute basic that is needed. I am thinking in particular about young adults on probation for drug charges with possible behavoural/mental health issues as a result of the drugs. Will you look into reviwing the way probation is carried out for yound adults. I believe the way probation is implemented needs to be overhauled.
Mon Jan 5 13:55:54 2004
Roy Thompson, Tunbridge Wells
The main road through the centre of Tunbridge Wells, between the Opera House and the Post Office, is restricted to buses and taxis on weekdays from 10 am to 4 pm. But the restriction is never enforced and hundreds of cars and vans use this road each day. Even when Police Officers are in the area (very infrequently) they take no action to enforce the law. This seriously undermines respect for road traffic law generally as well as irritating law abiding motorists. When is Mr Fuller going to take action on this problem?
Mon Jan 5 13:51:47 2004
michael johnson Pembury
A close frient was involved in a serious accident at Matfield on New Years eve, despite being caused by dangerous driving by an inexperienced driver, the Police will not prosecute, but do not hesitate in cases of 3mph over the limit, is the paperwork too much bother?
Mon Jan 5 13:51:05 2004
Jonathan Balcon-Tunbridge-Wells
Chief Constable - Welcome, I am the Retired Special Divisional Commandant of 'C' & 'D Divisions. In my day Kent had over 700 Specials. This number has now halved. What are you prposing to do to recruit more Specials and what is YOUR attitude to these Volunteers ?
Mon Jan 5 13:48:55 2004
Graham Rodmell, Tunbridge Wells
Making policing more accountable locally may be a commendable objective, but is the Kent force adequately resourced with funds and suitably skilled personnel to tackle investigation of foreign corruption, fraud, money laundering and other economic crime?
Mon Jan 5 13:48:14 2004
Alan Allcock - Ashford
Do you envisage uplifting & opening-up the local (ie. ward members & community groups) means of communication with the force? In my judgement this has deteriorated over the past 5 years and leads to increased misunderstanding of aims & objectives etc.
Good luck in your new appointment!
Mon Jan 5 13:47:59 2004
Simon Wright, Tunbridgewells
do you think 24hr liquor licensing would benefit or hinder the culture of the behaviour where people were blind drunk and disrupting the community shown on the news at lunch time today?
Mon Jan 5 13:43:28 2004
Alan Witt,Charing
I would like to know what the police or the public can do in order to force the judiciary to be more stringent in the enforcement of our apparently feeble laws. How are the Police supposed to keep law and order whislt the system, including many magistrates, give the impression that the police service is not given given support and the public is not protected?
The European Convention on Human Rights is often cited as an excuse to prevent police and magistrates doing their job as they would wish.Also European Law now has supremecy over English and Scottish Law. Would Mr Fuller consider the possibility of urging whatever Government is in power, to obtain some exemptions so that we can, once again, make our own laws? neighbours?
Mon Jan 5 13:32:28 2004
Spenser,Perth, Australia
Not really a question - first to say it is great that Kent has a coloured Commissioner, though many more counties with a higher ratio of coloured would have been expected to have done so.
My question: Are you able to command respect from your your own Force, if yes. Why!!
Mon Jan 5 12:24:40 2004
Stanley from Ashford
I belive that the lack of Police responce to antisocial behaviour throughout Kent causes people to have a greater fear of other types of crime. What do you intend Kent Police to do about antisocial behaviour? Also do you feel that the Antisocial behaviour laws deter Police Officers from tackling this problem as in can be time consuming
Mon Jan 5 09:45:22 2004
Jon - Maidstone
Having friends in the Police service in Kent, I have often moan about the fact there is not enough police vehicles to allow them to patrol the streets in. I recently heard that a Kent Police area got rid of 8 Police vehicles and have not replaced them. This is unacceptable. We can not have an efficient Police Service unless there is the equipment for officers to use
Sat Jan 3 17:25:16 2004
Chris, Margate
Can you advise us why are the youths that have caused damage to our cars have not been charged when we have supplied cctv images and names and addresses of the vandals, and why on two occations when we dialed 999 we got no response for over 3 hours.
Fri Jan 2 23:47:58 2004
Tony, Ashford
I am encouraged that the first black Chief Police Officer will be heading the Kent Police Force and that he has outstanding credentials for the job. However, I am also appalled by the perceived malpractice of your officers and believe that I am being kind to them by using the word perceived. The crimes perpetrated against my mother at her home are an affront to our family and all law abiding citizens living in the local community. Furthermore, I would say that the Kent Police Force have handed the detection of crime over to the people who are paying your officers their wages in the form of taxation. Does the Kent police also envisage handing over the punishing of criminals to the public? The Kent Constabulary are very boastful of their record in crime detection but this ability to detect is almost impossible to observe from the layman’s perspective. In fact, it is my humble opinion that many crimes are not detected and that these non-detections are subsequently not recorded as such. We are told to install CCTV, get witnesses, keep a log etc.. etc.,, Explain to us, then, why we need millions of pounds of investment in state of the art facilities and technology for your force headquarters? If we, the public, do detect the criminals, which seems to be the only way to proceed, your officers then seem intent on hindering the process of bringing them to justice. The sort of tactic I am referring to is where the criminal is allowed to make a counter allegation and then some form of bargaining takes place whereby your officers are able to process the crime in a way satisfactory to them and not to the benefit of the victim. In our experience the victim has then to endure further and more aggressive persecution by the original criminal and other miscreants that he has recruited. The allegations that I am making against officers of your force are serious. I contend that your officers have
• Not been recording the crimes that we have been informing them of
• Not classifying the crimes properly
• Made victims feel like the criminals
• Allowed the perpetrators to continue practising their crimes undeterred
• Created a situation whereby the law abiding citizens have to kowtow to the seemingly untouchable criminal elements who loiter outside their homes. I have now written several letters and emails to you but the ongoing criminal abuse of my elderly widowed mother remains unresolved. The most recent incident has resulted in the breaking of my mother’s exterior lighting, the smashing of her dining room window and the vandalism of my sister’s car. This was all unprovoked and at 3’oclock in the morning. But what is the point of telling you that, I’ve written to your force before about similar incidents and not received satisfactory responses. I said in a letter to the previous Chief Constable, almost one year ago, that if we did not have justice then I would be forced to go to the press instead. Maybe that is where you will read this.
Fri Jan 2 23:46:29 2004
Nick, Hawkenbury, Tunbridge Wells
The following is my response to the Home Office discussion document 'Policing: Building Safer Communities Together'
Much of my comment was obviously as a result of my experiences and contacts with Kent Police. Policy Document ‘Policing: Building Safer Communities Together’ A Response Foreword 1st Paragraph: ‘As a government we are working to build safer communities etc’ Comment: It is difficult to see how since for years the government has resolutely refused to listen to what the customer (the public) wants. They will not start to build safer communities until they consult properly and act upon what the customer wants. The customer wants more Community Police Officers who have smaller areas and who are allowed to spend the majority of their time on their beat. Our Community Police Officer spent just two days on his beat in October because he was directed to ‘other duties’. The Police Service should be far more accountable to the local community and less driven by unrealistic, targeted demands from the Home Office, which is too distant and out of touch with local needs. 3rd Paragraph: ‘Police numbers are historically high, and the chance of being a victim of crime is historically low’. Comment: If the numbers are so high, where are the police officers? Not on the streets, that’s for sure, despite there being record numbers of civilians in back office jobs.
If the chance of being a victim of crime is historically low, how is it that I and one of my neighbours have been victims of vandalism this week? 4th Paragraph: ‘Our reforms must be driven by our broader objectives: We want a police service which is efficient, effective and value for money: which rewards the skills of its personnel’. Comment: I can’t believe the Home Secretary actually wrote, let alone believes this stuff. The broader objective must be GREATER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION! When will the Home Office ever learn? 5th Paragraph: ‘We understand that public services, including the police …..can only be successful if they are conducted with people’. Comment: Well whoopee! This paragraph reflects the Home Office’s true priorities. This is the most important paragraph, It should have been the first and not relegated two thirds of the way down the page, almost as an afterthought. Section 4 Paragraph 4.5 ‘This might be through local people, having reliable data, questioning their local police leaders in community meetings about performance’. Comment: The following letter was drafted recently, but not sent, following an account in our local paper of just such a meeting between concerned citizens and police officers. The police officers present were led by the Chief Constable of Kent and the Deputy Chief Constable. “I am appalled at the complacency displayed by some of the most senior police officers in the county at the meeting with members of the public at Goudhurst on Thursday 20th November. (See report by Emma Lunn in Kent and Sussex Courier, Tunbridge Wells edition 28/11/03). Some of the comments attributed to these officers make one despair. This one from the Acting Chief Constable, Robert Ayling, “A thousand of our front line officers are in their first year of service and so do not know their patch very well”. This extraordinary comment has three worrying implications, which the police appear to accept as normal. Kent Police has a very high rate of turnover. Police officers receive little or no initial training about the geography of Kent, Police officers have to be in the job for more than year before they can be expected to know their way around! This is an unacceptable situation by any standards. A thousand Kent police officers represents a substantial percentage of the total force. What do they teach them during their 15 weeks training? Surely it should be part of every police officer’s core knowledge to have a very good idea of the geography of his own county, with emphasis on the area he/she will ultimately be working in. Mr Ayl
Fri Jan 2 19:47:38 2004
Mr Dunn,East Sussex
Are you going to commit yourself to trying to catch the violent burglars that are terrorising the south east and keeping the victims of burglary more informed
Fri Jan 2 19:47:27 2004
Julie, Gillingham
Concerns have been raised over the centralisation of the control rooms in Kent. Have you any intentions of de-centralising the control rooms back to local police stations?
Fri Jan 2 19:04:38 2004
Paul Crayford/Bexleyheath
I echo the sentiments of others about failure of the police to maintain law and order in the streets - especially in the evening, when Bexleyheath becomes a no-go area for any but drunken yobs
Fri Jan 2 17:46:17 2004
Trevor Sidley, Teston
Question for the New Chief Constable of Kent From the Home Office document “Crime in England and Wales 2002/2003” and “Kent Police Authority Annual Report 2002/2003” Recorded Crime in Kent has increased yet again, but the detection rate has fallen for the fourth year in a row; it’s now 27.9% from 28.2%, and 33% and 34% before that.
The cost of Kent Policing continues to rise, with the cost borne by the consumer through Council Tax, again exceeding inflation. Despite this Kent Police have failed to achieve the majority of their own “Policing Objectives” for 2002/2003, particularly those with regard to fear of crime. In terms of Customer Satisfaction the “Best Value Performance Indicators” continue to get worse. It cannot be logical to continue to do what’s been done in the past and expect a different result. By these measurements any Kent Resident might reasonably ask what you are going to do to differently to make Kent feel a better and safer community and why should your proposals succeed when clearly past Chief Constables have presided over a continuing worsening situation...
Fri Jan 2 16:33:39 2004
Robert Lee, Herne Bay
As a long standing victim of anti social behaviour and criminal damage and having been told on one occasion by an officer "can't you move?" I would like to ask what will you do in those areas where criminal damage/Anti social behaviour is at its worst and can you stick to doing it with NO false promises>
Fri Jan 2 15:38:36 2004
Sue Dartford
Again, the streets in Dartford are becoming lawless.There are incidents where the police are called, and no response for more the 15 minutes or just no response. What are you going to do to restore faith in the police being able to act effectively?
Fri Jan 2 13:22:28 2004
Sheila Henwoods, Pembury
More help required in our area. Intimidation,antisocial behaviour & vandalism, yes we are afriad. Girls do not live in our road but gather there as they feel the can get away with anything. The control room at Tonbridge always challenges the seriousness of our calls. Paddock Wood responds but their powers are limited
Fri Jan 2 13:19:45 2004
Sam, Gravesend, Kent
How are you going to deal with the culture of antisocial behaviour, vandalism and intimidation in the Gravesend area? Local people are scared to leave their homes and there are never enough police on the streets to act as a deterrant...
Fri Jan 2 12:24:30 2004
