News Police and council join forces to challenge predatory behaviour and VAWG

Kent Police and Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) teamed up to promote personal safety and challenge predatory behaviour in the town centre on Friday night, 12 December.

The initiative, named Project Vigilant, saw the police combine forces with MBC’s Community Protection Team, aimed to identify and challenge inappropriate or predatory behaviour during the busy festive period, helping to keep residents and visitors safe.

Officers were on hand to observe revellers, spot early signs of concerning behaviour and take preventative action.

Martyn Jeynes, Safer Stronger Communities Manager, who was among the plain-clothed officers on the ground, said: 

This was an excellent example of how MBC and Kent Police work in collaboration to keep our residents and visitors safe.

During the evening, several individuals were spoken to about their behaviour, a number of intoxicated revellers were advised to head home, and suspicious vehicles were stopped and their drivers questioned.

Cllr David Naghi, Chair of the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee, added: 

This initiative improves safety by deterring those who intend harm before they get the chance. Action like this send a clear message to would-be perpetrators.

We are keen to learn from our communities to make them safer, and that is why we have launched one of the first ever citizen deliberations to tackle VAWG. We want to hear from men and women of all ages so they can help inform our strategy to tackle the issue.

Festive Safety Campaign

Alongside targeted operations, Maidstone Borough Council’s Community Protection Team is reminding everyone to keep themselves and their belongings safe while enjoying the festive season in and around Maidstone.

The council are working closely with partners to support night-time economy safety, with officers deployed to assist operations and ensure a safe environment for all. Kent Police has also recently deployed its mobile Tower Cam, jointly funded by Maidstone Borough Council, to strengthen the existing fully monitored CCTV network across the borough.

Officers have been delivering leaflets to local businesses, working with partners including One Maidstone BID, to hand to customers with top tips on staying safe in busy, celebratory environments.

Simple precautions make a big difference:

• Plan your journey home
• Stay with friends
• Keep valuables secure
• Be mindful of your drink

Michelle Woodland of One Maidstone BID said: 

We’re proud to support partners across Maidstone in keeping the town centre safe during the festive season. Operations like this help deter predatory behaviour and protect those enjoying nights out. By sharing simple safety tips with local businesses, we’re helping residents and visitors celebrate confidently and stay secure.

This campaign comes as Maidstone continues its focus on tackling Violence Against Women and Girls.

• Recorded VAWG incidents in Maidstone fell from 3,617 (Dec 2022–Nov 2023) to 3,387 (Dec 2023–Nov 2024), a 6.36% reduction year-on-year.
• Maidstone accounts for 9% of recorded VAWG offences in Kent, ranking third by volume.
• While the reduction locally is below the Kent average of 9%, the population-adjusted rate of 18.4 incidents per 1,000 population is below the county average.
• However, many incidents go unreported, so actual prevalence may be higher. Nationally, around 3.2 million women in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking in the year to March 2025, that’s one in eight women.

To strengthen its approach, Maidstone Borough Council is recruiting residents for one of the first citizen deliberations in the country on VAWG. Participants will be paid to take part in structured sessions that bring lived experience together with expert input to co-create practical recommendations for the borough’s VAWG strategy. Applications are now open online.

For more information on staying safe this festive season or to report concerns, visit https://maidstone.gov.uk or call Kent Police on 101 (999 in an emergency).

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