The Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel met on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, to discuss the support provided to victims of crime and the effectiveness of Kent Police's response to public concerns. The panel reviewed its work programme for future meetings.

Caring for Victims

The panel received a comprehensive report on the work being done to support victims of crime across Kent and Medway. Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott highlighted that supporting victims is a fundamental responsibility, underpinned by the Victims' Code, which sets out minimum standards for victim support. The report detailed how Kent Police ensures victims are kept informed throughout the criminal justice process, with specialist roles such as Family Liaison Officers and Sexual Offence Liaison Officers providing tailored support.

The panel heard that the Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU) acts as a crucial single point of contact, managing victim expectations and ensuring compliance with the Victims' Code. However, significant pressures within the criminal justice system, including backlogs and delays, are leading to an increase in caseloads for the VWCU and a risk of victims withdrawing their support. To address this, Kent Police has invested in additional staff for the VWCU and is exploring technological solutions to reduce administrative burdens.

Commissioner Scott emphasised that while Kent Police is committed to providing quality service, the wider criminal justice system's capacity issues are a significant challenge. He noted that victim satisfaction rates for rape and domestic abuse, while broadly remaining above 90%, had seen slight decreases in recent months, which are being investigated.

Councillor Peter Feacey raised concerns about the long delays in the criminal justice system, with some cases taking over five years to conclude, and asked about progress in addressing this. Commissioner Scott acknowledged the issue, stating that while local efforts are being made, national agenda changes and investment in court capacity, recruitment of legal advisors, and judges are crucial. He also highlighted the risk that proposed reforms could undermine public confidence in the justice system.

Councillor Mike Blakemore inquired about the continuity of contracted victim support services post-2028, given the planned abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners. Commissioner Scott assured the panel that indications from the government suggest a need for continuity of commissioned services, and that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is actively working to ensure contracts are transferred to new arrangements.

Councillor Hannah Perkin asked about the key areas of success and areas needing improvement. Commissioner Scott identified the significant reach of victim support services, with over 80,000 victims supported annually, as a major success. He reiterated that delays in the criminal justice system remain the key area requiring improvement, stressing the need for investment in people across the CPS, courts, and probation services.

Councillor Connie Nolan praised the partnership working with organisations like Rising Sun in Canterbury, highlighting that statistics do not always capture the granular detail of support provided. Commissioner Scott agreed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining these partnerships during ongoing public sector reforms.

Catapult Misuse and Antisocial Behaviour

Councillor Richard Palmer raised concerns about the ongoing incidents of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage caused by catapults across Kent. He asked what performance data was being reviewed to assess the effectiveness of Kent Police's approach and how the Chief Constable is being held accountable for balancing reactive enforcement with preventative measures.

Commissioner Scott confirmed that significant work is underway, with the Rural Policing Task Force monitoring reports of catapult misuse. He noted an increase in such incidents over the past year, with trends showing different manifestations in urban (assault with injury, criminal damage) and rural (wildlife crime, poaching) areas. A consistent theme across both is the involvement of under-16s, exacerbated by social media trends.

The Commissioner outlined that Kent Police has clear policies for investigating these cases, with local teams and beat officers handling individual incidents and the rural policing team managing prolific offenders. He also mentioned that several councils are implementing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) to address catapult misuse.

However, Commissioner Scott flagged a significant risk with current Home Office guidance on antisocial behaviour, which he believes renders enforcement against under-16s under PSPOs effectively redundant due to requirements for proportionate approaches and prior interventions. He has made several recommendations to the Home Office, including including use against wildlife in offensive weapons guidance, considering catapults for the offensive weapons list, amending statutory guidance to allow for more effective enforcement against under-16s, and making wildlife crime a recordable offence.

Kent Police is also involved in Operation Leg Shot, a national initiative to assess and address trends in wildlife crime. Commissioner Scott stated that while Kent is seen as best practice nationally, there is still work to be done, and he is holding the Chief Constable to account for local follow-through.

Councillor Palmer expressed his view that catapults should be classified as offensive weapons, citing incidents of injury and damage to vehicles, people, and wildlife.

Responding to the Public (PEEL Inspection Update)

The panel received a verbal update on Kent Police's response to the PEEL inspection, focusing on improvements in responding to the public. Since January, the force has concentrated on enhancing response times through Operation Infinite, which involves collaboration between local policing teams, community safety units, and tactical operations teams. This operation aims to build relationships between local teams and dispatchers to ensure the quickest and most appropriate response to emergency calls.

Data presented showed a significant improvement in response times. The percentage of emergency calls attended within 20 minutes increased from 60% to 76%, with the median attendance time dropping from 18 minutes to 14 minutes and 37 seconds. For priority incidents, the percentage attended within one hour rose from 41% to 82%, with the median attendance time decreasing from over an hour to 30 minutes and 28 seconds.

Performance in answering 101 calls also remains strong, with Kent Police in the top three nationally for speed and low drop rates. The percentage of 999 calls answered within 10 seconds has also improved. Commissioner Scott assured the panel that other areas for improvement identified in the PEEL inspection are also being addressed.

Commissioner's Decisions

The Police and Crime Commissioner approved the final terms for the sale of surplus land at the Sutton Road site, authorising the completion of the transaction for £16.2 million. This capital receipt will be used to reduce the need for borrowing for the capital programme.

Panel Matters

The panel reviewed its work programme, with the next meeting scheduled for 10 September 2026, which will include discussions on the Annual Report and a Complaints Report. Members were encouraged to submit any additional items they felt passionate about to Gaetano Romagnuolo, the Research Officer. The panel also discussed the possibility of arranging a follow-up visit to the force control room for new members.