I have been contacted by a number of constituents in recent weeks who are deeply concerned about the unacceptable behaviour of a number of youths in the St John’s area and Tunbridge Wells town centre. There is also a separate group causing trouble to local people and shops in Paddock Wood.
The groups responsible, centred on around a dozen youths under 18 but drawing many others into criminal acts, have been vandalising property (including the pavilion and other parts of St John’s recreation ground), threatening people, abusing residents and shop workers, engaging in racial harassment, stealing from shops and committing acts of violence. Most are known to the Police and attend local schools.
I met recently with local secondary headteachers to discuss the situation and arranged a meeting with Chief Inspector Stuart Paul, the Police Commander for Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, and Inspector Ian Jones, head of Community Policing.
The Chief Inspector has taken steps to increase the Police presence in the area and has agreed measures to support headteachers, who themselves with their staff have been increasing their support for pupils leaving the schools at the end of the day.
During the weeks ahead dedicated neighbourhood Police Officers are being appointed to the areas affected, and each school will have a named officer whose job will involve getting to know the school concerned.
I’m also grateful to the Safer Town Partnership for agreeing to my request to equip the schools with radios that connect directly to the police and CCTV operators.
The Police have also informed me that several arrests have now been made for criminal activity, following many previous words of warning and visits to the parents of those involved.
While no-one wants young people to have a criminal record, I think it is right that persistent criminal behaviour, following repeated warnings, requires action to be taken.
I also met with the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, to reinforce the need for the Kent Police HQ to support the action required in Tunbridge Wells, and I have also discussed with the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Community Safety Unit what steps can be taken to intervene earlier with young people showing signs of being drawn into anti-social behaviour to head them off from this path.
I am grateful to the Chief Inspector and his colleagues for meeting with me and the Headteachers and responding in the way that they have.
Our area is generally a safe and respectful place, and it is important to intervene to keep it that way.
There are some signs that the increased police presence is having an effect, but it is still early days and the extent of the behaviour is very substantial. I will continue to support residents in doing everything I can to end this unacceptable situation.