KENT'S Chief Constable, Mike Fuller, gave a commitment to more visible policing during a meeting at Tunbridge Wells town hall.

Called by constituency Conservative MP, Archie Norman, the meeting was packed with parish and borough councillors and representatives from local churches, schools and residents' groups.

All had come to hear Mr Fuller's response to the public's perception of rising crime, even though statistics suggest the overall crime rate in the county has actually fallen.

Reporters were excluded from the meeting, for which Mr Fuller was some 45 minutes late, but later Mr Norman issued a statement.

He said: "It was a lively meeting and I'm pleased that so many local people were able to meet the Chief Constable in person. We support the work of Kent Police but the recurring theme was 'we rarely see a policeman'.

"Mike Fuller told us plainly 'I won't promise things that I can't deliver' but he did commit to a shift towards more visible community policing. He set out the initiatives he has brought in during his first six months in Kent on rural crime, anti-social behaviour, drugs and burglary."

Mr Fuller highlighted the arrest of two suspects following damage to four vehicles in St Stephen's Road, Tunbridge Wells, the night before as evidence of effective local policing.

Later he, too, issued a statement in which he said the number of uniformed officers on the street had already risen.

Mr Fuller said: "Since January, Kent Police has recruited 40 new probationers, with another 85 coming in October. Sixteen officers have transferred into Kent from other forces and we have stemmed the exodus of officers.

"We have recruited 62 more special constables and 24 Police Community Support Officers, and Kent County Council is adding 59 wardens. This is the start of a process to increase the uniformed presence across the county."

Mr Fuller also outlined various high-profile initiatives in Kent to tackle rural crime, burglary, anti-social behaviour and Class A drugs supply.