Kent Police officers are used to communicating via their radios. However, one neighbourhood officer is taking this idea one step further.

Sergeant Neil Kimber of the Island Neighbourhood Team, is now a regular feature on BRFM – otherwise known as Bridge FM, a full-time community radio station operating on the Isle of Sheppey, 24 hours a day.

Monthly slot

Each month, Sergeant Kimber will be appearing live on the station in his own half-hour slot giving out crime prevention advice, advising listeners of local issues and importantly, taking calls from members of the public who wish to pose their own questions.

During his most recent broadcast Sergeant Kimber talked in depth about Kent Police’s countywide initiative to make sure Kent and Medway stay safe in the run-up to this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.

He also spoke about the Island’s recent truancy initiative, run by police and Kent County Council, along with warnings to residents about the potential dangers of bogus callers.

Contact Sergeant Kimber directly

Sergeant Kimber said: ‘I’m really grateful to Danny Lawrence and all the team at BRFM for giving me this opportunity. This is a really unique and exciting way of getting information direct to local residents and to talk about the issues that matter to us all.

'I hope everyone in the area can listen in if they can and even ring in and speak to me in the studio if they have something specific to ask. It’s a community radio station after all and I want the show’s content to reflect that.'

Local issues

Danny Lawrence, one of the station managers at BRFM said: ‘Local matters are very important to us here and Neil’s addition to the team is a really great way for our listeners to engage and assist with local policing. I look forward to carrying on working with him in the New Year and would obviously encourage everyone to take some time out of their day to sit down and have a listen to the show.'

Sergeant Kimber will be appearing on BRFM once a month on 95.6FM. For details of his next broadcast keep keep checking the Mid Kent news section of the Kent Police website.

For more information about BRFM, please visit their website at www.brfm.net

Posted on: 14 December 2006