Kent Police want your views

27 July 2010, 13:42 | Updated: 27 July 2010, 13:50

Kent Police Authority will be hitting shopping centres countywide to ask the public if they were the budget holder - where they would make savings in the police force.

Shoppers will be asked to vote on the following that have been identified as potential areas of interest. The following categories will be put to the test:

·         Emergency response teams

·         Back office - police civilian staff

·         Back office – police officers

·         Neighbourhood policing e.g. local police constables and community support officers

·         999 call handlers

·         Investigations

·         Specialist tactical policing units e.g. firearms, dogs unit, marine unit

The summer road shows will run from 28 July to 6 September and will give members of the public a chance to meet with Authority members and local police constable and police community support officers. The Authority has already visited the Kent County Show in Maidstone and spoke to 600 people.

The following locations will be visited:

·        ASDA Folkestone, Wednesday 28 July: 10:30am – 3:30pm

·        Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, Friday 30 July: 10:30am – 3:30pm

·        Pentagon Centre, Chatham, Friday 6 August: 10:30am – 3:00pm

·        Bluewater, Friday 13 August: 10:30am – 3:30pm

·        Sainsbury Sittingbourne, Thursday 19 August: 10:30am – 3:30pm

·        County Square Ashford, Friday 20 August: 10:30am – 3:30pm

·        ASDA Kings Hill, Thursday 26 August: 10:30am – 3:30pm

·        Whitefriars Canterbury, Monday 6 September: 10:30am – 3:30pm

Ann Barnes, Chair of the Kent Police Authority said: ‘The Authority has to make over £20million worth of cuts in the next three years and it could potentially be more. We want to know what the public would do if they were the budget holder. We’re faced with making some difficult and tough decisions and it’s important the public has their say. I’m always out and about in the county, but really enjoy getting along to the Authority town centre road shows. It’s always very encouraging to hear that most of the public are happy with the policing service they receive, and I always relay this information to the Chief Constable and senior officers. All the information from the road shows won’t go into a black hole. I personally give my commitment that we will listen, and we will take the public’s views along to our budget committee in February 2011.’