A pretty park tucked away just yards from shops, restaurants and pubs sounds like the perfect place to relax – somewhere to escape from the hustle and bustle of the town centre.

But Brenchley Gardens in Maidstone has become notorious for being a crime hotspot. KentOnline reporter Katie Heslop went to find out why.

Watch: Brenchley Gardens on a June afternoon appears peaceful, but people say they wouldn't want to walk here after dark

It is a sunny early afternoon in Brenchley Gardens and all seems well. Couples are dotted around the Maidstone park, sunbathing near the numerous flower beds, and a mum and son are preparing a picnic.

A group on a bench are talking loudly and appear as if they might have had too much to drink, but they're not being rude or hostile to park-goers.

A little while later school children will arrive and lie lazily on the lawn, found off Station Road, and a pair will celebrate a birthday, pink and silver balloons bobbing in the breeze.

But just under three weeks ago, on the evening of Sunday, May 30, the scene was quite different.

A police cordon had been placed at the park, after man had to be taken to hospital following an attack in the gardens.

A Maidstone man was later charged with attempted murder.

Only two days later, in broad daylight, a man allegedly exposed himself in the gardens, while families were around. A man in his 70s was arrested and released while an investigation continues.

Over the years, there have been countless reports of criminal activity here, ranging from suspected drug dealing, to a man being stabbed in the leg.

In November 2019, a man was arrested after a teenager was allegedly raped in the park. He was later released and no further arrests have been made.

A year on, in January 2020, a man was attacked from behind and robbed.

The gardens were described as a "noted anti-social hotspot" in September 2019 by Cllr Jonathan Purle (Bridge ward), after plans to move the town's war memorial there were raised.

Cllr David Naghi (East ward), said this week there was no doubt the gardens were an "anti-social hotspot", and that its town centre position, close to night-time businesses, was one reason for the problems.

He said he wanted to see more police in the park.

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), however, describes unpleasant incidents in the park as "very rare", pointing out there are routine patrols in the area.

I spoke to park visitors, as well as residents that overlook the gardens, to find out what they think of it.

An MBC notice board at the entrance outlines its impressive history. It says the gardens were Maidstone's first public park, designed and laid out in 1871 by Alexander McKenzie, whose other designs include well-known spaces such as Alexandra Palace in London.

The garden is neat, with no rubbish to be seen, with groups sunning themselves.

However, if you look deeper, there are signs of the problems that can occur here and some of the steps taken to prevent trouble.

A sign on a lamp post says that since August 2017, the area has been controlled by a public space protection order, allowing police to confiscate alcohol from anybody drinking in the park.

A bright yellow poster, lower down on the post, explains that knives have previously been hidden and found in the area.

The sign declares that Kent Police have taken action and this is now a "#knifefree zone".

In April 2019, a 'knife bar' was used by police in the gardens.

The equipment, which functions like an airport metal detector, was manned by officers to try and deter anyone walking in with a knife.

Police were not able to say how many days a knife bar has been used in the gardens due to "operational reasons".

"It can be a bit dodgy. There have been drug users. You can tell people are smoking stuff when you come through on a Saturday afternoon."

CCTV cameras keep a constant eye on the goings on.

Zoe Davis, 43, was visiting the park for a picnic with her 12-year-old son.

"It's nicely kept, it's handy when you're shopping to have a picnic here," she said.

"It can be a bit dodgy. There have been drug users. You can tell people are smoking stuff when you come through on a Saturday afternoon.

"We tend to avoid it in the evenings. I am originally from London and it has been bred into me that you avoid big open spaces at night time."

Rainham couple Terry and Jean Branaghan have been visiting the park once a week for about 40 years, and have even started taking their granddaughter.

While enjoying a takeaway burger and chips, Jean, 68, said: "It's nice and quiet and peaceful. We have never had any crime or any trouble."

The couple said you do get a few people who are a little bit loud and had too much to drink, but they don't bother the other visitors.

Jean added: "As a woman I wouldn't want to walk through here at night time. I think once the shops shut the whole of the town takes on a different atmosphere."

Terry, 71, said: "It's like Magaluf or Ibiza, during the day we used to go out as a family, but we wouldn't dream of going in the night."

When asked whether shutting the park in the evening would be a good idea, Terry said: "I am really against shutting it – maybe they have got to have community police here, constantly walking round."

Hayley Goodall is renting a flat at McKenzie Court, which overlooks the gardens.

She has lived in Maidstone for 10 years but moved to her present home within just days of the assault on May 30.

She said: "It isn't shocking because unfortunately this same sort of thing seems to be happening quite regularly now.

"I know a couple of months ago there was a stabbing in Week Street – it seems unfortunately and sadly the norm in Maidstone."

In February this year a man was seriously injured after a stabbing in Week Street.

A Maidstone man is now set to go on trial in September, accused of attempted murder.

Speaking about Brenchley Gardens, Hayley said: "It's lovely during the day. It's nice to see families in the park. Unfortunately, you are going to get people ruining it for others.

"I know other people have said there has always been trouble here."

Hayley, who is 33, said she didn't like walking through the park on her own during the day, given the recent incidents.

She said: "I come home from work through the front way. For me, personally, I just don't feel safe."

When asked what could be done to make people feel safer, she replied: "I think maybe get officers patrolling or get a security guard or, failing that, lock the gates at night.

"I think something definitely does need to be done. It does make you think what is it going to take for something to be actually done?"

Couple Dan Ratten, 31, and Faye Gunton, 26, moved into McKenzie Court in September, after living in Tooting, south London.

"For me, personally, I just don't feel safe..."

Dan said: "We have never seen any trouble here. It isn't worse than living in Tooting. In London, there was a lot more stuff happening on a weekly basis."

He added, however, that it might be a different story when bars and pubs can reopen to their full capacity.

Faye says the gardens look much better, compared to when she and friends walked through them as school students about 10 years ago.

She added: "You didn't stop and rest, it just wasn't a pretty place to sit and have a picnic."

Dan has walked through the gardens in the evening on occasion.

He said: "There are no lights in the evenings. It would get completely pitch black, to the point you can't see the path. I would use my phone.

"You can see why it might be a magnet at night for certain criminal activity."

He said the only light was from the nearby railway station.

This was backed-up by another resident in the block, a woman in her 50s who wished to remain anonymous.

She said lights in the park were not always on or working.

"I just think it's a bit notorious isn't it, for drugs and noise," she added.

Ch Insp Gary Woodward, district commander for Maidstone said police are working with MBC to find further ways to prevent crime in the space.

He said: "Maidstone has a dedicated team of constables and police community support officers who work to keep residents, employees and visitors to the town safe.

"Our officers are regularly on foot in the retail areas, parks and public spaces, meeting the public and responding swiftly to crime and anti-social behaviour when they encounter it.

"We often carry out proactive operations to enhance public safety and deter offenders from coming to the town. This includes working with British Transport Police in the use of knife arches and searches at railway stations.

"Officers liaise closely with partner agencies and security staff at shops, bars and nightclubs to identify potential disorder and intervene at an early stage.

"We will not hesitate to impose dispersal orders in the town where there is a need and this requires those who do not behave appropriately to leave the area or risk arrest if they fail to comply.

"Brenchley Gardens is regularly patrolled at all times of the day and is part of the town centre that falls under a public spaces protection order.

"We carry out regular checks with the park manager for hidden or discarded knives and other weapons, and are working with the local council to identify other opportunities to prevent and deter crime.

"Maidstone has a vibrant night-time economy and the vast majority of people are well behaved. However, we will deal robustly with the small minority of those who are intent on committing crime and affecting others’ enjoyment of the town."

An MBC spokesman said: “Brenchley Gardens is a beautiful park within our town centre which is looked after by a dedicated parks team who work hard to provide a haven from busy streets and workplaces.

"Unfortunately, as was seen recently, incidents can occur in the park which are unpleasant.

"Fortunately these incidents are very rare owing to the attention the park receives from various agencies, including the town centre police, One Maidstone Ambassadors, youth outreach officers from KCC and youth specialists from local charities, who routinely patrol the area.

"MBC is continuing to work closely with Kent Police and other partners to ensure Brenchley Gardens and the surrounding area is a safe space for people to visit and enjoy.

“Considerations in regard to lighting and other deterrents are under constant review in keeping with how the park is being used. The park does have the benefit of CCTV.”

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone