Organisers of charity and community events will no longer have to pay for policing costs after a change of heart by the Kent force.

In a move that will be universally welcomed, Kent Police Authority has decided to no longer charge for extra policing.

KPA spokesman Alison Hammond said that although an immediate introduction of a 100 per cent abatement on charges for community and charity events had been agreed, a final proposal on the events charging policy would be drawn up and brought to the full authority meeting next month.

Among organisations to benefit is Faversham Carnival, which expects to receive a £634 bill from the police for patrolling this years event. It also shortened the parade route to minimise charging for policing.

Carnival association chairman Jeff Snoad said: “I am pleased that we are not going to be charged in the future but this policy has really not done this carnival any good at all.

“We are about £600 light on what we should have been plus we have to find another £600 for the police.”

The carnival association did receive a £1,000 grant from county councillor Tom Gates’s member’s fund.

• Audio: Tom Gates explains the charges to Adam Williams >>>

A member of the KPA, Cllr Gates has been campaigning for the charge to be waived for many months.

“It is fantastic news, not just for Faversham Carnival but for all community and charity events,” he said.