Marshals are set to be deployed once again to deter anti-social behaviour and reduce violence in town centres.

During the October half term, patrols will be taking place in both Sheerness and Sittingbourne high streets.

For the first time, there will be two marshals in each town centre – the council says this is to increase their reach and impact.

They will wear body cameras and have radios connected through Swale Link to the council’s CCTV centre.

It is part of the Safer Streets campaign, which aims to tackle the higher levels of anti-social behaviour and reduce violence against women.

The initiative was given the green light in 2023 and will be active during the school holidays. It will continue to run until March 2025.

Since it was launched, the authority has been able to track down people suspected of vandalising the toilets at Beachfields in Sheerness, as well as providing lifesaving first aid.

Additional CCTV cameras have also been installed in both towns and free active bystander training has been made available to the public.

The authority has also held educational workshops at secondary schools – focusing on subjects such as anti-social behaviour, drugs, alcohol, knife crime and vaping.

Swale council secured funding from the government’s Safer Streets Fund having worked with Kent Police and the county’s Crime Commissioner through their Community Safety Partnership.

Cllr Richard Palmer, chairman of the community and leisure committee, said: “The police are working hard to tackle the many issues in our town centres – but they can’t be everywhere all the time, so having these marshals as additional eyes, ears and feet on the ground has been very impactful.

“We have heard positive feedback from the public and the police, who have told us how beneficial these marshals have been; they are a visible deterrent and a trained presence that can intervene when they witness harmful situations.

“We have arranged for the marshals to patrol the high streets for the next three holiday periods as that is a time we witness an increase in anti-social behaviour.”

Cllr Elliott Jayes, vice chairman of the community and leisure committee, added: “Deploying these marshals is a way for us to use the safer streets funding to actively fight crime in our town centres, but it is the additional initiatives which we believe will have a lasting impact.

“We have funded important youth provision, education programmes and community training to help our communities become a safer place, where you can feel a sense of pride in where you live.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped make this project happen, the charities we’ve partnered with, our officers and the police, together we are making a positive impact.”

The marshals will be active again over the Christmas period and during the February school holidays.