A crime crackdown unit tackling issues to protect businesses in Dartford against persistent offenders is celebrating success after being named one of the best in the country.

The Dartford Town Against Crime (DTAC) network, made up of 65 firms in the town, has been recognised by a top police organisation working to make communities safer.

The DTAC partnership consisting of town businesses including shops, takeaways, pubs and clubs and is heavily supported by Dartford council.

Since it was established, some 36 community protection warnings (CPWs) and community protection notices (CPNs) have been issued to people committing crime against members.

This has helped build cases against some of the most persistent offenders.

DTAC has worked closely alongside police leading to 18 arrests and nine charges.

Licensed premises in Dartford were also visited by council licensing teams to help support anti-social behaviour issues.

The work has led the initiative to be named a Business Crime Reduction Partnership following a two-year assessment and application.

DTAC intelligence manager, Karen Radford, who also runs the Shop Safe Scheme to keep vulnerable residents safe, said: “I am so glad that DTAC has been accredited nationally. It has been a long two-year road to get DTAC to where it is now.”

She added she would like to see more partnerships start in Kent and have police officers play an active role in recruiting new members in towns across the county.

Assessors said the Dartford scheme "exceeded national standards" to analyse data, share information and identifying offenders.

Sophie Jordan, from the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships, said: "Karen carries out additional functions that protect businesses.

"Local authority staff can be accredited under certain legislation, which allows them to deal with members of the public on behalf of the authority to enforce certain aspects of local and national law, such as issuing CPWs, CPNs and Public Space Protection Orders."

She noted the council, which runs the scheme, provides support through publications and resources which other partnerships in the country struggle with when not operating with the same level of support.

Ms Jordan said this work meant the Dartford network is a "sustainable and effective" partnership reducing crime.

For more information and to sign up with DTAC contact Karen Radford on intelmanager@dartford.gov.uk

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford