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Rise in violent crime in Canterbury sparks fears from residents

Violent crime and antisocial behaviour is on the rise in Canterbury – sparking calls for a more visible police presence in the city.

New figures show that while overall crime across the district fell slightly in the year up to September, certain types have risen significantly.

A police presence in Canterbury city centre on January 20, when an officer was assaulted while responding to reports of teenagers causing a nuisance
A police presence in Canterbury city centre on January 20, when an officer was assaulted while responding to reports of teenagers causing a nuisance

Violent incidents rose by 7% while public order offences were up 5%, criminal damage and arson up 6%, and sexual offences also rose by 8%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Some residents say they now fear venturing into the city, amid concerns over “feral youths who do as they please”.

The city centre has been blighted by numerous high-profile violent incidents in recent memory.

Canterbury made international headlines in 2019, when 17-year-old German tourist Daniel Ezzedine was brutally attacked in the city centre by a gang of teenagers, leaving him brain damaged and severely disabled.

Just this month, one of the teenagers involved in the horrific attack was jailed for a further act of violence that saw him brawl with rivals in the high street.

On New Year’s Eve, a man was mugged in crime hotspot the Dane John Gardens by a gang of 10 to 15 people, who also attacked two of his friends.

Last month, a 15-year-old was arrested after a police officer was assaulted while responding to reports of young people causing a nuisance near McDonald’s in Canterbury high street. It led police to put a temporary dispersal order in place across the city centre, in an effort “to deal with antisocial behaviour and crime”.

And just last week, in the early hours of Friday, an off-duty police officer was punched as he tried to stop a gang attack in St George’s Street.

He intervened after spotting a man being pushed to the floor and kicked by a group of people, but suffered facial injuries in the process.

The new ONS figures support an anecdotal rise in violent crime and antisocial behaviour that has been keenly felt by many residents.

Police respond to an incident in Canterbury city centre
Police respond to an incident in Canterbury city centre

Some fear the rise – together with other factors such as an increase in the number of boarded-up shops – are tarnishing the city’s reputation.

Janet Dale, who formerly worked in the city, says she has seen it “deteriorate over the years”.

“It has become a dump,” she said. “So many major shops have closed down and sadly homeless people are sleeping rough in doorways.

“McDonald’s has people hanging around outside. Dane John Gardens is now a nightmare.

“We either go to Westwood Cross or McArthurGlen, and keep out of Canterbury now.

“Like most places it has become a no-go area.”

Janet Dale feels Canterbury's atmosphere is beginning to tarnish. Picture: Janet Dale
Janet Dale feels Canterbury's atmosphere is beginning to tarnish. Picture: Janet Dale

Mrs Dale says she feels unsafe in the city centre.

“I work a couple of days a week in Dane John Gardens but never venture into town," she said.

“If my husband is with me I am fine, but I seem to be clutching my handbag looking around me rather anxiously.”

Commenting on a previous KentOnline story, another person said: “It really is sad to see Canterbury degenerate so fast over the past few years.

"The days of it being seen as one of the better areas of Kent are long gone, unfortunately.”

"They know in the unlikely event of them being arrested, the courts will dish out a slap on the wrist. Not enough cops in violence hotspots.”

Graham Mitchell added: “The city centre is riddled with feral youths who do as they please.

"They know in the unlikely event of them being arrested, the courts will dish out a slap on the wrist. Not enough cops in violence hotspots.”

Nick Rooke, chartered surveyor at Castle Street estate agency Finn’s, also feels there should be a greater police presence in the city.

Having lived in Canterbury all his life and worked here for 26 years, he too has noticed “a rise of continual low-grade antisocial behaviour”.

He says windows at Finn’s have been smashed by vandals at least three times in recent years.

Nick Rooke of Finn's in Castle Street, Canterbury
Nick Rooke of Finn's in Castle Street, Canterbury

“There’s a stench of cannabis pretty much every day if you walk around,” he added.

“It seems people are happy to behave that way because they know they can get away with it. It seems there’s no joined-up thinking between Canterbury City Council (CCC) and Kent Police.”

City council leader Ben Fitter-Harding acknowledges there has been an increase in certain crimes in the city, but says “there are lots of positives on the horizon”.

“We certainly have had some high-profile incidents,” he said.

He added that while he feels there is already “quite a substantial” police presence in the city, patrols could be concentrated on key times such as the end of the school day.

Cllr Fitter-Harding also noted how the city centre “has become more run down in the last few years, particularly with empty shop fronts”.

But he described Canterbury as being in a kind of “artificial slump” while it awaits redevelopment and injections of cash, and as plans to revamp the derelict Nasons and Debenhams sites are stalled by environmental issues.

Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott with Canterbury City Council leader Ben Fitter-Harding in the Dane John Gardens last Thursday. Picture: Ben Fitter-Harding
Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott with Canterbury City Council leader Ben Fitter-Harding in the Dane John Gardens last Thursday. Picture: Ben Fitter-Harding

The council is set to give the St George’s Street area a £1 million makeover, and hopes to secure £20m from the government’s Levelling Up fund.

Meanwhile, a £382,000 project to bolster safety in the city centre is set to see more CCTV cameras and lighting installed in Dane John Gardens.

“There’s so much potential,” said Cllr Fitter-Harding.

“There’s also the push for visitors to return to the city [in pre-pandemic numbers] this summer. Lots of positives on the horizon.

“We don’t want our residents to feel like Canterbury is not a safe place to be. It still is, and there’s so much going on that will continue to make it safer.

“We have strong relationships with Kent Police and the PCC, and we’re responding [to residents’ concerns] by investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in improving CCTV and lighting in areas like the Dane John.

“I take the safety of our residents incredibly seriously.”

'Our officers work tirelessly'

Police insist they “are not complacent” when it comes to clamping down on crime in the city.

Inspector Guy Thompson of Canterbury Community Safety Unit said: “Canterbury is a large, vibrant area which is regularly patrolled by our dedicated police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who operate within the city centre.

Chief Inspector Guy Thompson. Picture: Kent Police
Chief Inspector Guy Thompson. Picture: Kent Police

“However, there is always potential for a small minority to commit crime and cause a nuisance. Kent Police understands the impact this can have on residents and local businesses and we are determined to use every tactic open to us to deal with those who cause such problems.

“We review crimes daily to ensure an appropriate investigation takes place and our officers’ pride themselves on the quality service they provide to victims of crime and anti-social behaviour.

“Officers have and will continue to use dispersal orders, community protection warnings and community protection notices where needed to ensure our communities feel safe.

“All our officers work tirelessly to protect the people of Canterbury.

“We have invested a significant number of resources into the city centre over recent years, including the dedicated team of officers who are regularly out on patrol during the week and the busy night-time economy.

A CCTV camera in Castle Street
A CCTV camera in Castle Street

“Most recently we have created a night-time economy action plan and a partnership group focused on tackling violence against women and girls.

“We secured, with Canterbury City Council, funding for new CCTV cameras and improved CCTV systems in the city.

“We are not complacent and we are committed to regularly talking to residents and working with local partners to assess crime in all areas of this district and will continue that dialogue.

“By working together, we can identify ways to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place and tackle crime in the most efficient way.

“It is vital that all incidents are reported to us immediately by calling 101, or 999 if life is in danger, so our officers are aware and so that we can prioritise each call and assign it to the most appropriate officers.”

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