by Anna White
awhite@thekmgroup.co.uk

If a little bird tells you something these days, it’s usually courtesy of the social media phenomenon Twitter.

Now Kent Police has become the latest recruit to the ranks of the Twitterati in an attempt to quash scurrilous rumours on the internet.

Gavin McKinnon, head of corporate communications, or his deputy Maria Porter, are responding to website speculation and comments with postings, or 'tweets’ as they are known.

But while some of its 10,220 followers openly praise police for allaying concerns, others have criticised it for allegedly 'covering up’ crime incidents, something the communications team strenuously denies.

Mr McKinnon said: “A key aim of using Twitter is to make us more transparent.

"We want members of the public to be able to check the facts with us."

Kent Police took advantage of the social networking site when the London riots broke out in August and gossip quickly spread of gangs heading to Maidstone.

It has earned the force praise from Home Secretary Theresa May.

More on this story in the current edition of the Kent Messenger out now.