Partnership Patrols Set to Increase, Along With Temperatures

Local Police and Council are working together to provide an increased presence on the Island this Summer.

As a result of requests from the public for more police officers and Council Street Wardens to be available on the Island during the busy Summer months; the Island Neighbourhood Policing Team and Swale Borough Council have been working together to move shifts and bring in extra resource to help meet this request.

INSP Steve Griffiths, of the Island Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We recognise that during the Summer the population of Sheppey swells significantly – with holiday makers as well as seasonal workers.  This inevitably means our resources are more stretched, to serve more residents and visitors.”

“As a direct result of concerns expressed by the Sheppey community, rather than allowing the quality of this service to fall, we are protecting it with additional, dedicated officers and additional Street Wardens.”

“By working with Partners, such as the local council, we are able to put more feet on the street and reassure the Island community that the higher population, albeit temporary, will not affect the service that they can expect from us.”

Alister Andrews, Environmental Response Team Manager for Swale Borough Council, concluded: “By working together with the Police we are able to cover more ground and provide a wider knowledge base.”

“By teaming up PCSOs with Street Wardens on dedicated patrols around the Island we are able to deal with a broader spectrum of problems, on site.”

“Whether it is drunk and rowdy behaviour inside an Alcohol Control Zone; flytipping by  waste carriers, operating without a licence, or SmartWatering residents’ property to help them deter burglars – by working together we are endeavouring to ensure the Island residents receive a consistent and high quality service from us, regardless of the time of year.”