Kent Police has objected to plans to increase the number of ex-offenders living in a town centre.

The force says it cannot support the proposed extension to the Fleming House bail hostel in Maidstone , which has drawn criticism from neighbours and victims of crime.

In a letter to Maidstone Borough Council's senior planning officer, police Designing Out Crime Officer Adrian Fromm refers to planning policy which states all decisions must ensure "crime and disorder, and the fear of crime, do not undermine the quality of life or community cohesion".

Mr Fromm points out that although the planning, design and access statement submitted by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) refers to the design within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), it does not specifically mention how planning policies and decisions "should aim to achieve healthy, inclusive and safe places" which do not undermine quality of life or community cohesion.

Ways of designing to achieve this aim, according to the NPPF, include the use of clear and legible pedestrian routes, and high quality public space, which encourage the active and continual use of public areas.

Currently the Tonbridge Road facility - officially know as an 'approved premises' - has room to house 31 occupants and is run by the National Probation Service on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

The planning application submitted to the borough council outlines proposals to demolish an existing garage and storage buildings, making way for the erection of the new housing .

If approved the extension to the property would have rooms for 11 people, with additional kitchen facilities, showers and an interview room.

The family of a man at the centre of a murder investigation are among those to have expressed their opposition to plans.

Jason Orwin died after being attacked in Bower Place, Maidstone, in July.

Mr Orwin’s mother, a neighbour of the facility, wrote: “It is a national disgrace that these offenders are mixing with our children. There is a primary school at the end of Bower Lane.”

According to the Probation Service, emergency services are regularly called to the town centre hostel, which houses violent and sexual offenders.

Although no detailed data has been released, documents submitted in support of plans to extend Fleming House reveal that emergency services are called to the site "less than once a fortnight".

The main reason emergency services would be called is to support with the recall of residents to prison.

Last month Christopher Hatcher, who was staying at Fleming House after release following at attack on a woman in Hythe, was jailed once more after attacking a 19-year-old woman in Bower Place while in breach of his curfew at the hostel.

Jonathan Purle, Conservative councillor for Bridge ward, is opposing the expansion plans and has written a lengthy submission to the planning committee outlining his objections.

He said: "This objection by Kent Police is very welcome. The MoJ like to pretend they're somehow keeping us safe by taking high-risk offenders from across the region and releasing into a residential area like Tonbridge Road with inadequate supervision.

"That the police are citing existing crime levels tallies with the experiences of people living in our part of town who over the years have suffered increasing levels of nuisance and crime from Fleming House.

"The MoJ should now drop these asinine proposals and concentrate instead on giving us a credible plan to reduce the harm Fleming House has been causing and to restore public safety."

Fleming House is staffed by the probation service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and staff carry out regular drug and alcohol testing, welfare checks and room searches.

A Probation Service spokesman said: "Approved premises such as Fleming House protect the public by ensuring offenders are closely monitored after their release from prison.

"We are expanding these across the country to reduce the risk of reoffending and the modest extension of Fleming House will help improve safety in Maidstone."

• Lance Colston, 36, is charged with Mr Orwin's murder and is expected to claim self defence but will formally enter a plea in December. Oliver Watts, 33, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Richard McConnaghie causing him actual bodily harm in connection with the incident. A trial is due to begin in January and is expected to last a week.

The planning application can be viewed by clicking here

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