Kent has witnessed a pointy enhance in canine bites in recent months, based on newly-released police figures.
Statistics present there have been 61 extra situations of “animal nuisance” between November 2023 and January 2024 in comparison with the identical interval final yr.
The figures have been contained in a report by Kent Police Chief Constable Tim Smith to the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner (KPCC) Matthew Scott.
It states: “Animal nuisance/canine bites with a rise of 42.1%, 61 extra incidents. 206 incidents have been reported within the three-month interval in comparison with 145 in the identical interval final yr.”
The report doesn’t clarify what could have pushed the rise.
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Just final month KentOnline reported on a horrific dog attack in Rochester. The traumatising second a pensioner’s beloved Jack Russell was savaged by a mastiff sort canine was caught on digicam, with the pet, referred to as Wilfie in the end having to be put down.
Also within the report, the inappropriate use of fireworks elevated by 43%, from 55 to 79 in the identical timeframe.
Overall delinquent behaviour (ASB) decreased by 5.2% or 257 fewer incidents. The greatest fall was skilled in January this yr.
The interval studied additionally confirmed a big drop in different classes of crimes.
Victim-based crime was down by 4.9% from 35,403 to 33,662.
The variety of suspects interviewed for shoplifting and retail crime shot up by 43.7% (from 952 to 1,368) and subsequent fees additionally rose by 44% (from 628 to 905).
The report states: “In the three-month interval, there have been 1,368 studies the place a suspect has been interviewed for a shoplifting offence which is a rise of 43.7% with 416 extra suspects interviewed in the identical interval final yr.
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“All three months have seen will increase on the earlier yr. December 2023 noticed essentially the most notable enhance with 438 studies with a suspect interviewed, a rise of 61.0%, 166 extra suspects interviewed.”
The figures come because the power has reviewed the launch of its Neighbourhood Policing Model, which launched in June final yr.
Chief Constable Smith wrote in his report back to the KPCC’s efficiency and supply board, which sat on Wednesday: “(The new mannequin) streamlined numerous totally different roles into three distinct groups – a Beat Team, a Child Centred Policing Team and a Neighbourhood Task Force supported by specialist Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) and Licensing officers.
“The Rural Task Force was elevated with extra Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) to additional develop engagement between the agricultural group and police.
“Since the mannequin’s inception the variety of workers inside these groups has been progressively growing as extra officers be part of Kent Police as a part of the nationwide police uplift programme.
“Residents in Kent could have seen extra cops seen inside their designated ward and parish areas coping with these ASB and crime points which have a damaging affect on native communities.
“These officers have been positively welcomed by councillors and residents alike who’ve seen the advantage of having a named police officer for his or her native space who’s seen and conscious of the problems raised by them.”
Mr Scott not too long ago secured funding from the Home Office to deliver extra visible policing in “hotspot” areas to drive down crime to run alongside the brand new neighbourhood policing mannequin.
This is seeing cops deployed to native communities and faculties, he mentioned.
The commissioner additionally launched an “immediate justice” programme from October.
It will see these committing delinquent behaviour pressured to undertake some payback to the group inside 48 hours of the offence being dedicated.
