Kent Police places Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) at the core of our operational strategy, recognising its impact on community safety and well being. VAWG includes a spectrum of harmful actions such as physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse that predominantly targets women and girls.

This evening (26/04/2024), in an effort to enhance safety and gather community feedback, local officers partnered with the local Business Crime Reduction Partnership to survey women and girls in the town centre about their sense of security. The evening survey revealed that most participants felt extremely safe in the town but also brought to light several key suggestions for improving public safety. These included the addition of more street lighting, expanded CCTV coverage and an increased presence of visible policing.

These community insights are invaluable, as we continually adapt our strategies to better protect the community. The suggestions for more lighting, CCTV, and visible police presence are being actively considered, reflecting our commitment to not only address VAWG but to prevent it through proactive community engagement.