General/shoplifting update - Paddock Wood

Dear Residents.

I thought it time to update you all on what Louis and I have been up to recently in and around Paddock Wood. We've both attended, follow up on and looked into a vast range of different incidents and events, not only in Paddock Wood, but all over the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge districts. 

First of all, over the last month or so, Louis and I have focused our efforts on shoplifting in Paddock Wood. As you all are probably aware, shoplifting nationally has become a real issue, and Paddock Wood is not excluded from this. Together with the shops in Paddock Wood, we have really focused on ensuring consistent reporting of incidents, and have set up specific things with some stores to help break down barriers to reporting incidents and make this an easier process. Through this, the hard work of the shop employee's and encouragement to ensure all incidents are reported promptly, we have made good progress with bringing individuals to justice. Thanks to prompt reporting, enquiries conducted and working with our colleagues in neighbouring areas we have now identified at least 17 different suspects of shoplifting from Tesco alone. 9 of these suspects have either been arrested, interviewed, charged or issued community resolutions. Enquiries are ongoing for the other suspects that have not yet been dealt with, most of which have interviews planned in for the near future or are actively been sought after for arrest. This will continue, no matter how much the value of the shoplifting. There is a myth that police will not deal with shoplifting under the value of £200. This is not the case. All shoplifting will be looked into and dealt with proportionately.

Other than shoplifting, we continue the work we have already put in to the area in relation to anti-social behaviour (ASB). Whilst there appears to have been a decrease in ASB recently, we will continue to deal with any situation that arise. Recently we had reports of two youths causing issues in and around the Community Centre. Through CCTV enquiries and close work with Mascalls Academy, these youths were promptly identified and issued with Acceptable Behaviour Agreements. A Community Protection Warning and then Community Protection Notice has also been issued to an adult that has been causing ASB to neighbours by us and the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

As the Beat Officer's for Paddock Wood the work is varied. As well as dealing with shoplifting and ASB, we have also been working on road safety. Whilst we tend to usually give words of advise to drivers on the roads, when we need to we also issue tickets. This will also continue in addition to all the other duties we have in Paddock Wood. 

Thank you all once again for the support you give us whilst policing Paddock Wood and the surrounding areas. Please ensure that all incidents and issues are reported to Kent Police, or relevant agencies. 

Kind regards,

PC Connor Geelan & PC Louis Scudder.

Beat Officer's - Paddock Wood. 

For crime in progress or life in danger - dial 999.

For any non-urgent reporting or enquiries contact - 101/online reporting.