ANN BARNES has been re-appointed chair of the Kent Police Authority (KPA) at its annual meeting.

The KPA oversees policing across the county and aims to ensure taxpayers' get the best service possible.

In what will be Mrs Barnes's third year in the role, she will continue to be responsible for setting budget, local policing priorities and targets and monitoring performance.

Mrs Barnes said: "We're the people's representatives and hold the purse strings for the Chief Constable. The police service has to be answerable to someone.

"It's our job as an authority to make sure people have a quality policing service and I look forward to playing my part in making sure this happens during the next year."

Mrs Barnes lives in North Lyminge, near Folkestone.