Council supports option to match police boundaries

The Council has given the thumbs up to a proposal for the Sevenoaks District to be covered by just one police command area.

At the meeting of the Council on Tuesday 21 February, councillors from all parties overwhelmingly supported an option that Sevenoaks District should be policed by an enlarged West Kent area force providing that additional resources are made available for an enlarged area including a police station at Swanley.

Currently Sevenoaks District is covered by two Kent Police command units. North Kent Police cover the north of the District including Swanley to New Ash Green down to Eynsford and across to West Kingsdown. West Kent Police cover the remainder of the District including Sevenoaks, Westerham, Edenbridge, Leigh and Penshurst.

The Council was responding to a consultation by Kent Police, which put forward three options to restructure the force.

Option 1 was that Sevenoaks District as a whole would be policed by an enlarged West Kent command unit.

Option 2 was to continue with the current arrangements with two command units covering the District.

Option 3 was that Sevenoaks District as a whole would be policed by an enlarged North Kent command unit.

The Council has given an assurance that which ever option is finally approved, the Council will continue to work in partnership with the police and its other Community Safety Partners to reduce crime and the fear of crime in Sevenoaks District.

Cllr Keith Loney, the Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for community safety issues, says: "We are very grateful to Kent Police for allowing us to help shape the future of policing in Sevenoaks District. Although the current relationships with both Police areas are good, we feel that if the whole of Sevenoaks District were covered by just one police command unit it could lead to an improved more efficient service, particularly as we have been assured of flexible arrangements regarding call outs from the nearest appropriate police station."

The Kent Police consultation will end on 28 February 2006.