Video and report by Kathryn
Cain

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Kent Police Chief Constable Mike Fuller
patrolled the streets of Maidstone to see the challenges his
officers face.

On his first such visit to any
of the Kent towns, the Chief Constable was shown the new
Maidstone Gateway complex on King Street and went “on the beat” in
the town centre on Thursday, July 23.

The Gateway, which offers services such
as council tax benefits advice, social services and registration of
births, deaths and marriages, also offers support from the police,
including a police surgery on Monday mornings.

Mr Fuller said: “It’s a great idea. To
have everything co-located means that many services are easily
available to the public in a kind of one stop shop. I am very
pleased to support the concept.”

Asked how effectively Maidstone Police
are performing, the Chief Constable said recorded crime
figures were down, but violent crimes such as knife crime
still need to be tackled.

He said: “That’s one of the challenges
for Maidstone now. We are collaborating with local pubs and clubs
and their security to bring figures down and giving out educational
packs in schools to inform young people about the misery caused by
knives.

“There is a very good police service
here, which is no small feat since there is such a huge night time
economy thriving in Maidstone.”

Mr Fuller also held a workshop with
police officers earlier in the day.