New scheme targets crime and antisocial behaviour in Chatham
The major initiative across multiple agencies aims to rejuvenate the town centre.
A new initiative has been launched in Chatham aiming to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in the town centre.
Kent Police, in partnership with Medway Council and other organisations, are participating in the new 'Clear, Hold, Build' scheme, a three step system to make areas safer and more welcoming to residents.
What is Clear, Hold, Build?
Clear, Hold, Build will see criminals and their associates cleared from an area through relentless police activity.
The area is then held and stabilised through high-visibility patrols, assistance from partner agencies and community engagement.
With support from key stakeholders, residents will then be equipped and empowered to build a strong and resilient community free from crime and exploitation.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Inspector Allen Searle, (Community Safety Unit Inspector for Kent Police in Medway,) said it would create a massive change across the area:
"I'm really proud of the opportunity to launch Clear, Hold, Build.
"We are going to focus on tackling crime, antisocial behaviour and the environmental factors that affect the town centres, specifically Chatham Town Centre.
"There's a number of different avenues and tactics that we're going to utilise, but essentially the project is split into 3 phases, clear, hold and build.
"During the initial clear phase, led by Kent Police, we'll be looking to take firm action in relation to those committing crime and antisocial behaviour within the town centre.
"Not only we are going to be utilising the wider powers that we have, including community protection notices, community protection warnings and dispersal powers, we're also going to be visiting, we're also going to be visiting a number of different commercial businesses within the town centre that we think may be linked to money laundering, serious and organised crime.
"We'll be doing those visits with our partners such as Trading Standards, Immigration and HMRC. So we can actually tackle any potential criminality that happens within the town centres.
"During this phase, it is so essential that we speak to and engage with the communities within the Chatham Town Centre.
"So my officers, as well as staff from our partners, are carrying out surveys, so we can truly understand what actually affects the people who visit and work within these areas."
He added that the next 'Hold' stage would be led by Medway Council, to prevent any reoffending, before proceeding onto 'Build'.
Talking about the importance of the 'Build' stage, Inspector Searle said:
"This is where we look to hand the town centre back to the community, so we can actually rebuild that.
"Because I know the community within Medway. They have a sense of pride within our town centres, as we all should, as I do.
"As a father of four who've been born and bred within Medway, I want my children to be able to grow up in a place where they feel safe and where they're happy to engage with everybody.
"So it's something that myself and my colleagues and my peers in the other agencies are really, really invested in doing."
The scheme will focus on enhancing the town centre, with the targeted patch bordered by New Cut, Hards Town, Rope Walk and Medway Street.