The closure of a cannabis factory was one of the many positive results which came during the recent Not in my Neighbourhood campaign.

The three-week Kent Police initiative ran from 19 October until 8 November and was aimed at tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in communities across the county.

It saw officers working with local councils, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Neighbourhood Watch, Clean Kent, the Probation Service, the Kent and Medway Camera Safety Partnership, Kent County Council and Medway Council.

Drugs raid

Officers closed the cannabis factory at a house in Clarendon Place, Dover after executing a search warrant at the property.

The property was raided after officers from the Dover neighbourhood policing team received information from the local community. In total, 29 cannabis plants were seized, along with cultivation equipment.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and possession of crack cocaine. He was questioned at Dover Police Station and has been released on bail while officers make further enquiries.

Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour

The Not in my Neighbourhood campaign covered half term, Halloween and firework celebrations.

Inspector Phil Hibben, who coordinated action across the county, said: 'Kent Police, in partnership with other agencies, has been working hard during the last month to tackle incidents of anti-social behaviour and crime that concern the public the most.

'Whilst good progress has been made towards making our communities safer, there is still more work to be done. Over the coming months we will be increasing the pressure on the small minority of people in our communities who continue to act anti-socially and who have no regard for other people.

'Anti-social behaviour is a serious issue and we are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.'

The campaign

The three week campaign included:

• A waste carriers road check in Swale which resulted in the recovery of a stolen vehicle, found being carried on the back of a flatbed vehicle under the guise of being scrap.
• An ongoing multi-agency crackdown on abandoned and untaxed vehicles. During the campaign, 37 vehicles were taken off the streets of Swale, 45 from Canterbury and 36 from Ashford. These vehicles were taken to a compound where they will be crushed if owners do not pay fines and storage fees within a given time.
• In west Kent, high visibility neighbourhood patrols by officers on foot, on bicycles and in cars proved extremely successful. Whereas in previous years calls about anti-social behaviour rose over the Halloween period, this year there was not one call to the police about problems in St. John’s and Sevenoaks Town wards.
• In Swale, officers gave out sweets to encourage trick or treaters to visit them so they could speak to them about enjoying Halloween safely and acting responsibly.
• A safer cycling event took place at Larkfield village hall, aimed at young people. Those giving advice and staging demonstrations and activities included Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Tonbridge and Malling Community Safety Partnership, Hyde Housing and Neighbourhood Watch.
• In response to concerns expressed by local residents, officers patrolled known trouble spots around Gravesend and Dartford to deal with problems caused by off-road motorcyclists. Numerous motorcyclists were prevented from entering these areas or served with notices warning them to stop riding or risk seizure of their vehicle.
• There were road checks across the county, resulting in drivers being prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit, not wearing seat belts and using mobile phones while at the wheel.
• Between 2 and 6 November, officers in the Canterbury and coastal area carried out speed checks at 27 different sites. More than 80 drivers were caught exceeding the speed limit and were advised to slow down.
• More than 90 shopkeepers in Tonbridge and Malling were visited by police and asked to support a countywide campaign not to sell eggs and flour to under-16s. A total of 80 shops selling fireworks were also visited and staff were reminded about the laws on the sale and storage of fireworks.
• Extra police patrols were on duty across the county to respond to calls for assistance from the public. As well as officers on foot patrol and in patrol cars others were out on bicycles to maximise the opportunities to talk to young people about road safety, crime prevention and anti-social behaviour.

Posted on: 18 November 2009