'£1.5m boost to put police in crime hotspots' - PCC

Kent will receive a £1.5m boost to provide more policing in crime hotspots, the county's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has revealed.

Matthew Scott said Kent Police would receive new funding from the government to "put more visible policing out in your streets" and "make you feel safer".

The PCC added that there were still "difficult decisions to be made" on finances, adding there would be job cuts within the force.

Mr Scott made the announcement on BBC Radio Kent's hot seat with Dominic King on Thursday, when he also spoke about "disgraceful" court backlogs, council tax rises and cannabis issues.

He said: "It's new money from central government. We are going to try and make that money go further and see what more we can do to make our community safer."

Answering listeners' questions about policing in Kent, Mr Scott also said an upcoming increase in council tax would allow the force to reduce its savings gap.

Listen: Kent PCC Matthew Scott's hotseat interview

He added that Kent Police "understands the cost of living pressures people have" but was balancing this with the level of service provided and "balancing the books".

Mr Scott conceded that the force would lose some non-front line policing jobs, however.

Continuing on the force's finances, Mr Scott said Kent Police had been "let down" by successive governments who he said had not provided enough money.

When asked who was responsible for budget shortfalls, he said: "There are two sources of funding, the government and the council tax payer, and it's not the council tax payer's fault.

"I think successive governments have let us down. It's a generational problem.

"Successive governments have really not got to grips with this problem and I hope this new one will."

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