More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Kent Police have hit back at claims they are abandoning remembrance parades across the county.
The Chief Constable has revealed there will be no changes to the way the upcoming events are handled.
The message follows Dymchurch British Legion criticising the force, amid claims police had decided not to send officers on marches.
Legion chiefs claimed the planned Dymchurch route for the parade on Sunday, November 10 needed officers to help regulate it.
They called on police to provide an officer to take part in a test run of the parade tomorrow, amid fears it would be dangerous if left unpoliced.
But Ian Learmonth, Chief Constable at Kent Police, said: “We’ve never said these events won’t be policed, what we’ve said is event organisers will be responsible for organising the event.”
“This has been misrepresented by some people, the police are not abandoning any Remembrance Day events, they are really important to us as an organisation.”
Mr Learmonth added: “Kent is a big military county and of course we want to show our respect at this very important time of the year.”
“It’s very unfortunate that this has been presented in the way it has, that suggests Kent police are walking away from it. That is not the case and it has never been the case.”
Organisers of the Dymchurch parade are the only ones to request traffic control from the force, out of 80 planned ceremonies in the county.
It will head 400 yards from the village’s RBL base at Sea Wall and north along the A259 to the War Memorial and St Peter’s Church at the junction of New Hall Close.
Ron Dean, chairman of Dymchurch Royal British Legion said: “The A250 is a busy and dangerous road and we need police there to control the traffic. Most people in cars would not take notice of civilian marshals.”
“We will have police officers present at all but very few events and those few where we won’t have police officers is because they’re not needed" - Chief Constable Ian Learmonth
Meanwhile, in Chatham, police have said they will continue to support the Chatham Remembrance Day parade but the route may have to be changed.
Cllr Vince Maple claimed the event could be cancelled because Kent Police will no longer automatically marshal ceremonies unless there is a public order risk.
The Medway Labour leader wrote to crime commissioner Ann Barnes last week, urging her to reconsider.
But police have now said they were always going to provide officers for the event.
Kent Police remain adamant policing of the parades will be kept the same as previous years, including the decision to not send officers to small-scale functions.
Mr Learmonth said: “We will have police officers present at all but very few events and those few where we won’t have police officers is because they’re not needed.”
“There shouldn’t be any difference, assuming the organisers do their job.”
