Members of the police attended a public meeting to discuss the ongoing issues with crime and anti social behaviour in an area of the town.

Around 50 residents from Riverview met a Cascades Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, Gravesend, on Wednesday, March 28, at 7.30pm, to question and express their frustration about issues in their community to acting inspector for Gravesham, Allen Searle, along with his colleagues and councillors.

Vandalism, burglaries, anti social behaviour, what residents can and can’t do when they witness a crime or preventing it and how to contact the police were all the issues addressed.

The meeting was called after nine vehicles were damaged on the evening of Thursday, March 22, into the early hours of Friday, March 23.

It is thought the 12 cars were vandalised from Thursday, March 22, to Saturday, March 24.

PC Searle said in regards to the spate of crime in the area: “it’s unacceptable what happened but for me to deter that, it is very difficult with that level of crime with in Riverview.

“Nine criminal damages in one night are unheard of.

“I would love to have a police officer on every corner but unfortunately we have gone through such a cut in our budget.

“We have lost so many numbers.

“We use to have a police officer for every ward, now we have two officers for this ward but they cover three other wards as well.

“Members of the community have spoken to me.

“They find it very difficult to contact the police.

“Continue to feed us the information, if we do not know there’s a problem we find it very difficult to respond to the problem.

Cllr Knight said: “It sounds like some of the kids around here doing what they want when they want.

“This year we will all be paying a £12 precept on your council tax.

“That money is to pay for extra police officers.

“Kent is one of the few places they are maintaining or increasing the numbers of PCSOs.”

Cllr William Lambert said: “You’re not going to get policemen on each corner.”