Adam Holloway, MP

Before I was elected I spent the best part of the 18 months before that going round the houses in Gravesham getting to know people. One area that I concentrated on was the Kings Farm Estate, where so many families try to cope - often valiantly - with the effects of appalling anti-social behaviour and crime from a tiny minority of their neighbours. Crime and so called “low level” anti-social behaviour are to me the number 1 issue across the Borough. Some people will say I have become boring on the subject but it blights lives.

 

We need more cops and a firmer style of policing, as the months fairly shocking crime figures show. Well, Chief Constable Mike Fuller as effectively given us a few more officers - and he has appointed two seriously experienced officers in the top jobs at Gravesend. Area Commander Chief Superintendent Gary Beautridge and Area Commander Superintendent Chris Hogben - they are the type that care more for doing the right thing by the people they serve than they do about the serving of their careers. How shall I put it? I am cautiously delighted that they have arrived. They have got straight down to it. On Friday they invited me to have a look at their recent operation on the Kings Farm Estate. Thirty two arrests already - we were up there to find two others with outstanding warrants. The Police did not find them that night - but the Police were visible and on the ground, which is a huge step forward. There is also to be an increase of around 50% in the tactical teams - the men and women that follow up incidents and if necessary impose order. All this matters hugely. I do not see why people in Gravesham should be afraid in their own homes. I would love to say that things round here will change overnight - they won’t. But I do believe things will get better - but we still need a lot more police Officers that the new command team would be able to use for the benefit of us all.