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I have always been a big supporter of our police force, and I know they do a great job in keeping us safe and handling crime in our community. Policing is risky, with officers often facing dangerous situations to protect us. Every day, they face new challenges and must be ready for anything to protect the community. This is essential for our safety, allowing us to live, work, and enjoy life without worry. When we can trust the police will protect us, it boosts everyone's sense of well-being and security.
That’s why together with my colleague and friend, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, we've secured more funding for our area to support the police and provide them with the resources they need. The first job of any government is to keep people safe, which is why we’re committed to ensuring our police have what they need to protect our communities.
Chatham Town Centre has received £284,523.65 from the Safer Streets Fund. This money aims to address crimes like anti-social behaviour, littering, fly-tipping, sexual offences, retail theft, robbery, and criminal damage. It's great to see that Medway has already gained 38 more officers and 14 school officers. Local beat officers have also been assigned to different wards across Medway to build better relationships with the community and tackle crime more effectively.
This funding and the increase in officers are already making a difference. Crime rates have dropped year on year, with fewer robberies, burglaries, thefts, and acts of criminal damage. Chatham has seen a 16% drop in crime and a 10% decrease in violence and anti-social behaviour. This is a promising trend, and I'm excited to keep working with the police to maintain this progress.
The Safer Streets Fund will also help enhance security measures like increasing CCTV on the High Street, starting a new Neighbourhood Watch, training security staff on how to handle drink spiking, removing graffiti, and raising awareness about Violence Against Women and Girls. It's essential that people feel safe at home and on our streets, and I'm glad we're moving in the right direction thanks to the hard work of Kent Police, Matthew Scott, and the Government’s support.
By sticking to our long-term plan to tackle crime, we're making our streets and communities safer for everyone. We want to ensure that wherever people live, they can feel secure and proud of their home.