Officers from Kent Police are holding a community surgery today, 9 February 2026, at Doddington Village Hall on Hopes Hill, Doddington (ME9 0BH), to talk with residents about local safety issues. This drop‑in session runs from 19:00 to 21:00 at the village hall, where anyone can come to raise non‑urgent concerns about crime in their neighbourhood.
The meeting is part of Kent Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Model and local partnership work with Swale Borough Council to increase visibility in rural areas such as Doddington and the Syndale Valley. Residents do not need an appointment and can speak one‑on‑one with officers — including PC James Tancock, the local beat officer — about non‑urgent problems such as speeding on local roads or fly‑tipping.
Farmers and people living in the countryside have recently reported concerns about organised agricultural theft and illegal hunting on private land. According to the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), many local businesses have been worried about the theft of high‑value GPS units/kits and other satellite guidance equipment from tractors and farm machinery.
Doddington Parish Council and local residents have also sought increased patrols to deter anti‑social and nuisance driving on Hopes Hill. The event forms part of a wider effort supported by government neighbourhood‑policing funding: GOV.UK records show a projected growth of 65 full‑time officers (FTE) for Kent Police in 2025–26 aimed at strengthening local neighbourhood policing across the county.
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