Kent Police Authority consulted with front-line operational officers and the public to inform their policing plan and budget. The Authority chose to address the most commonly identified need amongst residents. This was to feel safer in their community, and to see a reduction in crime in their local area. In response to this consultation the Authority created Neighbourhood Task Teams (NTTs). These immediate response teams have created strong links with the local community, quickly resolved anti-social behaviour and crime, and improved confidence levels amongst Kent and Medway residents.
Following consultation and meetings with residents’ forums across Kent and Medway, the key objective for the year was to invest in and create NTTs. These were tasked with providing an immediate response to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour issues. As part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy a significant amount of budget was approved to be invested in creating the teams across the County. The teams have been placed across Kent and Medway to focus on local areas and issues.
Since their introduction in September 2008, the NTTs have built strong relationships with their local communities by working closely with residents. This has led to successful and speedy resolution of anti-social behaviour and crime in trouble spots in the County. Confidence levels of Kent and Medway residents have significantly improved and minor and local crime have fallen.
Each NTT is made up of a sergeant and five police constables and works alongside existing neighbourhood officers. The teams can be placed where there is greatest need for them. They are able to concentrate on targeting specific issues which have been identified by neighbourhood policing and the Partners and Community Together (PACT) process.
In Medway, following introduction of the NTT the total number of calls about anti-social behaviour reduced by almost 40 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year (reducing from 96 calls to 58).