Police in Ashford are turning one of the town’s shops into an advice hub for a week to help prevent residents becoming victims of crime.
Ashford Community Safety Unit is taking over the Community Pop-Up Shop in the County Square shopping centre from Monday 25 to Friday 29 October 2021.
Each day of the week, different groups and agencies will be at the shop between 10am and 3pm to offer local people advice on a range of issues.
Schedule
• From Monday 25 to Thursday 28 October, representatives of Neighbourhood Watch will be on hand with crime prevention advice and ideas on how to set up new groups.
• On Tuesday 26 October, members of the Ashford Partnership Against Crime, which connects Kent Police, Ashford Borough Council and local businesses, will be present to give advice to firms in the area.
• On Wednesday 27 October, Kent Police recruitment experts will be at the shop to advise anyone thinking of joining the force about the wide range of roles which policing has to offer.
• On Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 October, crime prevention officers will be offering a free bike marking service and giving advice on how to keep bikes safe from thieves.
• On Friday 29 October, anti-social behaviour officers from Ashford Borough Council and Kent Police will be on hand to hear residents’ concerns and offer advice on how to tackle problems in their area.
Community engagement
Members of Kent Police’s cadet unit will also be present each day to give an insight into the opportunities the groups offer to young people.
Ashford town beat officer PC Danielle Butcher said: ‘I’m very pleased that we will have the use of this excellent facility in the town centre to engage with the community and offer advice.
‘The range of people who will be at the shop during the week will give residents a chance to hear from experts in a number of fields and learn how to best keep themselves and their property safe and secure.’
