A project aimed to make Maidstone town centre a safer place has been hailed with an award from Kent Police.

The Divisional Commander’s Certificate of Merit was presented to Ilsa Butler, manager of the County Town's Business Improvement District (BID), and the team, for the initiatives they have delivered within their first year of operation, such as BID ambassadors who patrol the town centre during the day and night.

The certificate says the OneMaidstone team has been rewarded for its "outstanding work, dedication and commitment", insisting it was clear from the outset that the management were focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

The scheme was hailed for delivering a number of successful initiatives, including the street ambassadors, who police chiefs said have been "instrumental in supporting victims and witnesses and bringing offenders to justice on numerous occasions".

Ms Butler accepted the certificate at a special Divisional Commanders’ ceremony held at the force's Sutton Road headquarters, and a team version was later presented by Sgt Andy Stringer at the OneMaidstone offices.

Greg Wayland, OneMaidstone's Crime Reduction Partnership team leader, said: "We are all very pleased to receive this praise from Kent Police, as so much of our work and ethos centres around working together with partner agencies to achieve the best possible services and results for Maidstone town centre.

"Our BID ambassadors are often at the front line of incidents such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, and it is great for them to be acknowledged by Kent Police for the assistance that they provide."

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