Millionaire property tycoon Fergus Wilson has announced plans to stand in the election for the first Kent Police commissioner.

Mr Wilson and wife Judith, who live in Boughton Monchelsea, own hundreds of properties – mainly in Maidstone and Ashford.

The 63-year-old said if he gets voted in he plans to focus on how the county’s limited resources are used.

Although Mr Wilson wants to make it clear he is not criticising Kent Police, he believes people have had enough of minor crimes not being investigated, not being able to get hold of anyone, or officers not being able to attend incidents.

He has vowed to stand as an independent candidate rather than aligning himself to a political party – but wants to avoid the “independent banner”.
He said: “Gone are the days when everything was investigated. If you have a major crime in the county it takes an awful lot of time and other things don’t get investigated.

"I'm not being critical of the police – I recognise they don’t have enough resources – but they are things to be looked at and areas me and every person in Kent is concerned about.

"It comes down to what is the best use of resources.”

Mr Wilson also has plans to introduce a reward scheme encouraging businesses to put up cash for information about crimes. Other priorities for him would include looking at financial crime, immigration and the fear many elderly people have of venturing out.

Mr Wilson added he didn’t think his brief brush with the law, in 2008 when he was found guilty of using a mobile phone while driving, would affect his chances.