Officers have been employed by the council to patrol the town centre.

Gravesham council have implemented three officers to stop people lying in the street or cycling down New Road, along with enforcing other rules, set by a Public Space Protection in during July 2016.

The news comes after it was revealed the council’s previous contractors, Kingdom, only fined 17 people for cycling through New Road during their contract which was terminated in January 2017 .

No fines for lying in the street were issued during that time frame, nor has the council issued any since the ending Kingdom’s contract.

The three officers, will also give advice and signpost people lying on the street to appropriate agencies and put in place measures to reduce street drinking.

Their roles will also include an element of educating and enforcing littering in the town centre and dealing with some low-level anti-social behavior.

The Safer Place Officers, which are to look after the town and its people, will also be able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for dog fouling or littering should they come across it while on patrol.

Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Cllr John Knight, said: “I am delighted with the new recruits and am sure there will be a huge improvement seen in and around the town centre.

“This is a new approach for the council and one which will be different to anything we have had in the past.

“The main focus for the officers is to make Gravesham a safer place to live, work and enjoy.

“Our new officers will provide help and advice to people in the town and present a friendly and positive face of the council on the street.”