Ever-rising tide of crime sparks Thanet vigilante warning

EXTRA police officers are being drafted in to some of Thanet's most crime-ridden streets amid fears residents could take matters into their own hands.

Councillors have warned rising neighbourhood tensions and antisocial behaviour could lead to vigilante action in parts of Cliftonville.

DEMAND FOR ACTION: Cliftonville West councillors Linda Aldred, Clive Hart and Doug Clark have written to the police and Thanet council about growing disorder in their ward GITW20111025B-001_C

According to Labour's Clive Hart, Linda Aldred and Doug Clark, gangs, vandalism and drug-dealing are rife in the area and need to be tackled urgently.

Councillor Hart, shadow leader of the council, said: "We are all too used to individual complaints, but the number we receive has increased dramatically.

"I have written a letter to Kent Police and the council's chief executive to demand action.

"We have serious concerns that decent local people could take matters into their own hands."

But Kent Police says it is already planning a crackdown in Cliftonville, and has revealed it will more than treble the number of officers on the beat there next month, from 6 to 20, in a bid to restore order.

A police spokesman said: "There are several operations taking place focusing on problem addresses.

"These aim to hit particular issues and antisocial behaviour hotspots. There is a CCTV camera overlooking the Viking play area and a team of police officers regularly patrol this area.

"Kent Police is currently redesigning its policing model. Neighbourhood policing will be at the heart of it, and there will be more neighbourhood officers on the streets of Kent with a broader role.

"We will let the public know who will be working in their neighbourhood once the roles have been finalised."

Councillors in the Cliftonville ward helped introduce Thanet's first ever dispersal zone in 2004 to stop gangs gathering around Surrey Road, and Cllr Hart says it is something that may have to be brought back in if policing measures do not improve the situation.

Thanet council cabinet member for community services Chris Wells said: "The council takes its duty to reduce crime and disorder very seriously, and will do all it can in partnership with Kent Police."