The district commander of Maidstone police has spoken to re-assure the public after the tragic events in Maidstone High Street at the weekend.

A large brawl in Jubilee Square after a performance by London rapper MoStack at The Gallery night club left one man dead on the street and four others wounded.

Andre Bent, 21, a student at London South Bank University, died from stab wounds.

Chief Inspector Ray Quiller said: "I must reassure people that Maidstone is a safe town. The terrible events of Sunday morning were tragic, but fortunately very rare. Maidstone is a very safe place to live, work and enjoy yourself.

"We work hard to ensure there is a hostile environment for anyone who wants to come here to cause trouble or spoil things for others."

Ch Insp Quiller said he knew people would find the death "very concerning." He said: "I am a resident of Maidstone myself and I find it concerning, but nevertheless I am satisfied that we have ability and resources to properly police the area."

Ch Insp Quiller said that officers were already on duty in the town centre when the trouble was reported and he said: "We were there very swiftly."

He said: "The fact that we were able to arrest four suspects still at the scene, shows the speed of our response."

Asked whether his policing area was becoming more violent, with three incidents reported on three successive days: a stabbing at Headcorn Station on Friday, an 80-year-old man mugged at a petrol station in Maidstone on Saturday, and then the murder on Sunday, Ch Insp Quiller disagreed.

He said: "These were all isolated, unrelated incidents. It was co-incidental they occurred so close together."

Ch Insp Quiller was unable to reveal much detail about the ongoing inquiry into Sunday's tragedy, because of ongoing court cases - the four men arrested in connection with the incident all appeared in court this morning, before a fifth man was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and perverting the course of justice, but he said his officers did not believe the fight was gang related.

He said: "Policing the town's night-time economy can often be very challenging, but my officers are always there getting in the middle of it to keep people safe."

Ch Insp Quiller also praised the work of the volunteers such as the Street Pastors and the Urban Blue Bus. He said: "They do a fantastic job. They are very much a part of the partnership that includes One Maidstone, the borough council and the licensed premises themselves that helps us police the town effectively."

Questioned whether we should be relying on the help of volunteers such as the Street Pastors, who were perhaps doing work that police officers should be doing, Ch Insp Quiller disagreed. He said: "The volunteers provide medical support, counselling and advice. What that does is to free up my officers to tackle crime and deter offenders. We are very grateful to the volunteers for their service."

Ch Insp Quiller said that even before this weekend's events, matters were in hand to provide extra policing in the county town. He said: "From October we are establishing a town centre team of five officers to specifically police the town - and that is in addition to the officers we already have."

The extra manpower has come about as a direct result of extra funding raised by the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, in this year's police precept increase.

Reacting to suggestions from a local councillor, that officers were not making enough use of their stop and search powers, Ch Insp Quiller again said the reverse was true.

A policeman for 20 years, he said: "I'm a firm believer in stop and search and I encourage my officers to use their powers whenever it is legitimate to do so.

"In fact between April to July in 2018, we carried out 124 stop-searches, but between the same period this year it was 485."

Asked whether that had led to any public resentment, he said: "No. The public's reaction has been very positive. Not only does it deter people from bringing offensive weapons into town, it also helps people feel safer when they see us using stop and search."

And the tactic works.

Ch Insp Quiller said that since his force had received extra funding from the Government in April to tackle serious crime, and the increased use of stop and search, the incidents of knife-related crime had fallen by 50%.

Ch Insp Quiller said that the police had received a lot of support following Sunday's killing. He said: "People were calling at the police station the next day to hand in their mobile phone footage."

Although they have already received many clips of the incident, Ch Insp Quiller encouraged anyone who had footage of their night out on Saturday evening to send it in.

"You may think it doesn't show anything," he said: "But send it in and let us decide."

Anyone with information or videos can call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting 25-0224.

Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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