Exclusive by Gerry Warren

A whistleblower has revealed controversial plans to significantly cut the number of police officers based at Herne Bay who cover the coastal towns to ‘scarily’ low levels.

Now the police area commander, Ch Supt John Molloy has been forced to admit he is considering taking away staff to bolster policing in Canterbury and Thanet where, he says, the need is greater.

The details have emerged in an anonymous letter believed to be from a Herne Bay-based officer or civilian who claims the proposal is to take away 17 patrol officers by cutting the existing five teams of five down to four teams of two.

He or she also claims the plans go further by having no officers working from Herne Bay after 2am.

The letters says: "I am concerned that somebody is going to get hurt due to these proposed cuts, be it a member of the public or a police officer, public confidence will nose dive and once more the unsavourary residents will realise the lack of police presence.

"Crime in the early hours will increase and most of all I am stunned by the senior management’s view that the coastal area is a sleepy backwater with hardly any crime."

The writer accuses the East Kent policing management team of running the area like a business rather than a public service and accuses them of ‘losing touch’ with frontline policing.

But Ch Supt Molloy says he is having to consider re-balancing his resources to deploy officers where they are most needed.

The revelation has shocked Canterbury and Whitstable MP Julian Brazier

Mr Brazier said he thought the proposals were ‘deeply disturbing’ and said he would be writing to the chief superintendent to arrange an urgent meeting.

Parish council chairmen at Broomfield and Chestfield have also reacted angrily to the proposals.

But Ch Supt Molloy says he is confident cutting the number of Herne Bay-based officers would not have a detrimental affect on crime on the coast because extra patrols could be drafted in when needed.

Read the full story and get the full reaction in Thursday's Gazette