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Kent Police not expecting Brexit riots

The top officer at Kent Police believes the world is not going to end post-Brexit, despite fears of riots and traffic jams at the border.

Chief Constable Alan Pughsley claims nothing will really change in the county in the immediate aftermath of March 29, 2019.

At a performance and delivery board meeting today, he said: "Brexit is much more wider than some people who say 'the world is going to end on March 29' I don't share that view.

"From a European Union point of view, I think we will be in the same position as we are now.

"Whatever the process looks like, I think it will be the same because we will still have to be policing the borders with regard to criminality coming in or out to Europe.

"British policing is the biggest inputter of intelligence into Europol and Interpol.

"The European partners would not like us not to be part of that either because of the obvious loss of intelligence and information.

Chief Constable Alan Pughsley does not expect riots in Kent after Brexit
Chief Constable Alan Pughsley does not expect riots in Kent after Brexit

"So that work will most likely continue and carry on."

He added regardless of the outcome of Brexit, Kent Police will continue their bi-lateral agreements with French forces.

Mr Pughsley also dispelled claims the county will suffer riots, saying: "I don't envisage civil unrest on March 29.

"The last time we had a riot in Kent was 1870.

Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley
Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley

"We had riots in London in 2011 the outstanding work of my officers, and the community in general, are not rioters, unlawful law-abiding people.

"They're a great community that live in Kent.

"This doesn't mean we are complacent in any way, shape or form.

"We are in a strong place, we are watching it carefully."

However, Mr Pughsley's deputy, Tony Blaker, added the "principle issue" was traffic if the borders are blocked due to change in enforcement.

He said: "We have well advanced plans on how we will manage traffic to make sure we are prepared for either a deal or no deal scenario."

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