I went to the Kent County Show on Friday, with some trepidation as I had heard on the news that because of the bad weather the showground had been closed, however, they did let me in for which I'm very grateful as I do love to go.

It is great...

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has issued another report, this one on increasing efficiency in the police service. It focuses on collaboration and how forces in England and Wales share services. I was very pleased, but not at all surprised, to see Kent featuring as case study for its...

This week the Authority will be launching our 'Have your say' roadshows. We are visiting nine locations around the county to find out your views. Tomorrow the Authority will be at Sainsbury's in Sittingbourne. So if you're nearby then do come along and give your opinions on policing in the...

It's that time of year again and the Authority will be touring the county throughout July and August to talk to the public about their policing priorities. We will be visiting town centre shopping centres from Sainsburys through to Bluewater.

I really do enjoy the roadshows as I think...

I've just returned from a trip to Russia. I had a great time and thought that Saint Petersburg was fantastic! I'd definitely recommend a visit.

Over the weekend I popped along to the Kent Police open day. The event was good fun and there were lots of free activities...

Finally summer has arrived! It was scorching last Friday at our Commissioning Conference. Thanks to all the speakers who all gave their perspective on commissioning services within the new Police and Crime Commissioner world. If you didn't make the event you can check out all the presentations and my welcome...

Time is flying by and there's only six months to the new incoming Police and Crime Commissioners. There is an awful lot of work going on behind the scenes, not just locally but nationally as well.

A new national interim board has been set up that will act as...

You might have seen local coverage over the weekend on potential closures to Kent Police buildings. I have to say that personally the key to success of any change is absolute transparency and engagement.

Members actually agreed in principle for the Chief Constable to push ahead with rationalising operational police...

What a dire weekend, the weather was terrible.

Lots in the news today of the rise in cannabis farms around the UK with media reports that the police are discovering 21 factories daily in Britain, you wouldn't believe but that's a street value of £100million. Here in Kent I'm...

I was amazed at an article in the Observer over the weekend. There are always loopholes but I was staggered by this one. See what you think. Here is the article

Currently police staff and officers who work under the direction and control of the Chief...

Football has been making the headlines lately. Chelsea thrashed Tottenham 5-1 last Sunday, not sure how the blues will get on playing my team, Liverpool, in the FA Cup final, but I'm definitely rooting for the reds.

Closer to home and football also made the headlines over policing costs for...

I've been away over the Easter break at my brother's wedding and two issues arose. The Home Office announced their requirements to give extra powers to the UK Government Communications Headquarters to have access to our emails, text messages, Skype calls etc. From a police perspective it's an additional weapon...

April already - can't quite believe where the time has gone since Christmas!

I'm busy writing to the Policing Minister, Nick Herbert, to invite him to the launch of our new initiative called STATUS - Stay Safe and Tell us - an online platform that will offer young people a...

Another busy week - back to back meetings yesterday - I had my regular catch up with my Chief Executive and then met with the Kent Police Federation about the implementation of the new Kent Policing Model from their perspective. Finally I saw the Chief Constable who was on leave...

I have spent since Sunday evening in Solihull at the Association of Police Authorities Transition Conference which was all about getting ready for a seamless change from Police Authorities to Police and Crime Commissioners in November.

There is an awful lot of work going on locally and nationally and...

There was lots of media interest over the weekend about the actual number of officers responding to 999 calls diminishing nationally. I am always very conscious about bald statistics as they often add little to a debate and can cloud an important issue.

Looking at the numbers for Kent, it's...

There has been a lot in the media over the weekend about Surrey and West Midlands police asking private security firms to bid for contracts to run services currently carried out by police officers, such as investigating crime and patrolling neighbourhoods. It seems that everyone has a view on this...

I've just returned from West Africa and had a wonderful break with lots of sunshine.

This week I'm really looking forward to our Safer Kent Awards event on Friday at Leeds Castle. It's not often that you get the chance to sit back and reflect on just how hard people...

This year's budget setting meeting was a tough one. Police Authority members unanimously made a decision last week to accept a Government grant of £2.6million rather than increase the council tax precept. It's such a tough time for families and we really had to consider them and the burden that...

I was at the launch of a new super IT project last week, the first in the country. The project known as 'Athena' involves seven forces using the same IT provisions to record data in the same way. This is great news for the taxpayers of the county. It's bad...