Annual Report 22/23 Accessible Version
8. Priorities for the Chief Constable (5. To be visible to needs of communities)
Be visible and responsive to the needs of communities
The relationship between the police and the people who live, work and visit the county is vital to building trust and confidence. Kent Police must listen to and understand the needs of communities and provide a visible, accessible and responsive service 24/7, 365 days a year which is timely, empathetic and professional.
Kent Police continued to focus on improving the partnership response to people in mental health crisis and ensuring they receive a first-class service from the relevant agency at the point of contact. The force improved its collection and use of data, to deliver enhanced training, ensuring appropriate interventions were made when dealing with someone in crisis. This work resulted in better outcomes for vulnerable people through a significant reduction in the use of police s.136 powers of detention:
|
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
|
1,775 |
2,050 |
1,745 |
1,136 |
835 |
Each of the 13 Districts continued to be served by its own dedicated Local Policing Team and Community Safety Unit (CSU). CSUs focus on prevention, deterrence and community engagement, working in partnership to problem solve local issues, particularly where there is vulnerability and community-based crime and ASB. Supplementary to regular officers, Special Constables on average attended 60 events within their communities each month as well local policing duties. Such events included pro-active traffic enforcement, community safety duties, community events such as the force Open Day and the Kent County Show and working with cadets. In 2022/23, Community Policing Volunteers also volunteered over 3,000 hours to specialist policing teams