When the Neighbourhood Policing Model came into force in June last year, it aimed at putting bobbies back on the street to help reduce crime.

But has it worked? Cara Simmonds joined one of the new beat officers in Sheerness to find out.

Anti-social behaviour and shoplifting are the two major issues PC Alison Honess has been tackling.

And it appears to be working.

Between last Octoberand September this year, the number of shoplifing offences in Swale reported to police was 1,412, down from 1,704 over the previous 12 months - a 17% reduction.

The 43-year-old says, in her patch of Sheerness, that’s because most of the repeat offenders are behind bars.

Alison has recently been focusing on young people committing minor offences, including criminal damage and disruptive behaviour.

“I'm really keen to improve that,” she said. “I think if we have good relations with young people as they grow, that relationship continues and it negates a lot of issues later on.

“They know me and they're happy to come and talk to me. A lot of it has to do with perception.

“People will see a group and might feel intimidated because of what they've seen on the news, online or heard from other people.”

The mum-of-one says she is proud to call herself a Swampy – a term given to people born and raised on Sheppey.

Alison went on to attend Highsted Grammar School in Sittingbourne.

She has been an officer since 2006 but originally wanted to go into the film and television industry.

During her studies at Staffordshire University, there was a change of plan.

“I’d had a pretty poor service from the police when I was a victim of a burglary,” she explained. “It was quite robotic. It would take nothing just to be a little bit softer when they were speaking to us because they actually did a very good job.

“I never had any desire to become a police officer, but a few years after returning home there was a large recruitment drive in 2005 so I applied.

“I felt a change was needed and wanted to be part of that.”

Alison spent 15 years as a response officer, which she describes as being “fast-paced and hard work but incredibly rewarding”.

She then worked as a neighbourhood officer in Sittingbourne for two years.

But now as a beat officer, she covers an assigned “ward” and makes sure she keeps up-to-date with residents’ concerns and issues specific to that community.

They have the same powers as the police that respond to 999 calls, which includes the powers of arrest.

Alison is joined by PC Hewes and the two cover the Sheerness area, as well as Neats Court Retail Park in Queenborough.

Other officers have been assigned to Minster (PC Saddington), Eastchurch, Warden and Leysdown (PC Kinrade), as well as Queenborough, Rushenden and Halfway (PC Savage).

There are also two Police Community Support Officers who cover the whole Island (PCSO Johnson and Beeny).

On a typical day, Alison first looks at all the calls that have come in from her patch.

“It can be very varied, which I really like. No two days are the same,” she explained. “I look at what reports have been submitted to get a general feel for what's going on.

"Then I'll know who to look for and what areas to go to.

“It can be very varied, which I really like. No two days are the same.”

“Victims of crime don't necessarily understand the process of how the police work. Sometimes they might have questions that they didn't feel that they could ask at the time.

“I have the ability to prioritise those kind of things. It can add that extra reassurance.”

The rest of her time is taken up by answering calls as they come in and tackling low-level crimes in the neighbourhood.

There were 412 offences reported between October 2022 and September last year, and 398 offences between last October and this September.

This is a 3.39% reduction for the Isle of Sheppey.

Despite fewer offences being reported across Swale, officers have solved more of these crimes, from 395 to 478, which is a 21% increase.

The charge rate has also risen between 2022 and 2024, a jump of 365 charges to 452.

Alison racks up around 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day as she walks and cycles around the town.

Out on the beat, she was recognised and approached by residents and members of staff in shops.

Patricia, a retiree who lives just off of the High Street, has been a Sheppey resident for 46 years.

She told KentOnline the idea of having a local officer was “great” and highly respects those who work in the public sector.

Butcher Stanley Ward runs Kent Fresh Food and says he has experienced dealings with shoplifters in the past.

“There’s always a lot going on here and it can be hard to keep an eye on things,” he explained.

“Now with Alison, I know exactly who to call when I’m in trouble.”

The Minster resident added: “The PCSOs are always walking about and checking in with me as well.”

Another shop manager on the High Street, who didn’t wish to be named, believes crime has gone down since Alison has been on the beat.

He said: “It’s a brilliant visual deterrent and I feel a lot safer. People would walk along the road and steal, going into each shop in a row.

“I touch base with Alison every morning. We have private security but she is also my first port of call.

“We all want the same thing - you don’t want to come into work to fight off people.”

More than a year into her new role, Alison firmly believes this is the way forward, strengthening the communication between police and communities.

She added: “Having that regular connection, you can put a name to the face.

“It makes you more approachable. People can see that there is law, there is order.

“I think it's a really positive thing to have that point of contact because you can build up those relations over the months and years whilst that person's in post.”