The Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to discuss the Police and Crime Commissioner's Annual Report for 2025/26, receive updates on police reform and address various policing matters. Key discussions included the effectiveness of neighbourhood policing, responses to anti-social behaviour, and the ongoing challenges of police force mergers and potential abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioner role.

Annual Report 2025/26

The panel reviewed the Police and Crime Commissioner's Annual Report for 2025/26, which detailed progress against the 'Cut Crime, Support Victims, Build Trust' Police and Crime Plan. The report highlighted a reduction in several high-harm offences, including rape and domestic abuse, alongside significant investment in victim support services. It also noted improvements in emergency response times and strengthened neighbourhood policing. However, concerns were raised regarding the increase in recorded anti-social behaviour incidents and the complexities of accurately measuring crime statistics, particularly in relation to nationality and migration status.

Police Reform and Future Governance

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a verbal update on police reform. The panel was informed about the government's proposals to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) by May 2028, with their functions potentially transferring to elected mayors or local police and crime boards. The proposed creation of a National Police Service, merging various national policing bodies, and the potential merger of police forces across England and Wales were also discussed. Panel members expressed concerns about the potential impact of these reforms on local policing and the uncertainty they created for staff. The report also touched upon the ongoing review of police force structures led by Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe.

Anti-Social Behaviour and Nuisance Vehicles

The panel discussed the rise in anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents, which had increased by 22.1% in the reporting year. Councillor Deborah Croxton highlighted the success of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) implemented in Gravesham Borough Council to tackle nuisance vehicles, and inquired if this could be promoted across other boroughs. The Commissioner confirmed that PSPOs were effective tools and that he would continue to promote their use, noting that Dartford and Medway already had similar orders in place. The issue of face coverings being used by individuals involved in ASB was also raised, with a discussion on whether existing powers could be used to address this.

Rural Crime and Fly-Tipping

The effectiveness of the Rural Task Force and the broader response to rural crime were examined. Councillor Peter Feacey raised concerns about the speed of agency responses to fly-tipping incidents and the concrete changes made in response to public concerns. The Commissioner acknowledged that different councils had varying approaches to fly-tipping and that while progress had been made, there was still a long way to go. The importance of tackling waste crime as well as fly-tipping was emphasised, with mention of increased funding for fly-tipping enforcement.

Hate Crime and Domestic Violence

Councillor Hannah Perkin raised questions regarding the police's engagement with domestic violence charities and the metrics used to measure referrals to the hate crime advocacy service. The Commissioner confirmed ongoing engagement with the sector and provided updated referral numbers for the hate crime advocacy service, noting that a more detailed breakdown would be provided in a future paper. The issue of recording crime by nationality and migration status was also discussed, with the Commissioner explaining that current Home Office counting rules focus on the offence rather than the offender, and that immigration status is not routinely recorded.

Dover Protests and Policing Strategy

An emergency question was raised regarding the policing strategy and tactics used during recent protests in Dover. The Commissioner apologised to the residents and businesses of Dover for the disruption caused and stated that he had been in daily conversations with the Chief Constable to understand the communication strategy and any missed opportunities. A review by the College of Policing was commissioned to examine the authorized professional practice around protests, intelligence gathering, and community reassurance.

Other Matters

The panel also noted the Annual Report regarding complaints against the Commissioner, which showed a decrease in recorded complaints compared to the previous year. Discussions also touched upon the work programme, with a request for a future report on the Dover incident, and updates on upcoming panel meetings and informal briefings. The Commissioner provided specific data on hate crime referrals, confirming a rise in referrals to the hate crime advocacy service.