On Saturday 28 August 2021, a total of 16 special constables took to the streets assisting regular officers by attending a range of incidents and providing a visible deterrent to those intent on committing crime.
They could be seen in the town centre and other areas including Brenchley Gardens and Mote Park, where they engaged with residents and visitors to the area.
Incidents
During their time on patrol, the volunteers attended a total of 15 calls which included two separate incidents where members of the public required urgent medical attention. The constables also assisted a vulnerable woman who reported she had been assaulted and gathered vital evidence while ensuring the victim received appropriate support.
Whilst responding to calls, the special constables, who were also assisted by several volunteer police cadets, completed 10 checks on vehicles and visited a number of licensed premises in the town centre.
Inspector Amanda Oldacre, of the Citizens in Policing Department said: ‘The county town has once again received a diligent and effective contribution from the Special Constabulary who on this occasion were accompanied by our cadet volunteers. They attended a range of challenging incidents which ensured regular officers had more resources to respond to other emergency calls.
‘The vital work our volunteers provide in their own time is to be commended. They are always professional and the positive impact on the communities they serve is much appreciated.’
Volunteers
Special constables are volunteers who have full police powers, equipment and uniform and who work alongside regular officers at Kent Police. They give up a minimum of 16 hours of their own time every month, to help police an area of their choice.
The Volunteer Police Cadets scheme is a uniformed organisation supported by Kent Police for young people aged 13 to 17. Cadets meet once a week for two to three hours during term time and in addition volunteer three more hours each month to help with a community-based project.