Kentish Express Ashford & District
Virus rates fall among police staff
New roads ‘present ongoing risk of death’
Cases of Covid-19 among police employees declined in January amid renewed calls for vaccines to be prioritised for frontline officers.
Latest figures released by the Kent force show there were 191 positive tests among officers, staff and volunteers, down from a peak of 238 in December.
Of the cases among officers, the bulk of the infections were recorded by those of constable rank.
Meanwhile, Kent Police Federation chairman Neil Mennie has called on the government to speed up plans to deliver jabs to the county’s cops.
He said: “The Vaccines Minister said mid-March which unfortunately is a bit too far off for us.
“We’d like it sooner than that.
“We’d love to be able to carry out our business socially distanced at all times but we just can’t do that. Even something like someone being angry and shouting at us creates aerosols. We have to go into people’s personal spaces and we need to do that as safely as we can.
“Really and truly we need to be vaccinated as soon as we can so we can help.”
Smart motorways such as that recently installed on the M20 should be scrapped across the county, warns a police chief.
Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has called on the UK government to review the use of the “unsafe” infrastructure, which removes the hard shoulder.
This comes after an inquest into the deaths of Alexandru Murgeanu, 22, and Jason Mercer, 44, found the lack of a hard shoulder on the M1 led to them being killed after a lorry driver hit a stationary vehicle in the inside lane in June 2019.
South Yorkshire coroner David Urpeth told an inquest at Sheffield Town Hall last month: “I believe that smart motorways, as things currently stand, present an ongoing risk of future deaths.”
Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner has weighed in to oppose their use.
Mr Scott said: “Smart motorways are not safe enough.
“There are not enough refuge areas.
“I think they are a risk if people break down on carriageways.
“I know they are supposed to improve things like congestion, however many Kent MPs have expressed similar concerns they are simply not safe.”
Last month, Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch called for extra safety measures on the M20 after a 6.5-mile stretch was converted into smart motorways between Junction 3 for West Malling and Junction 5 for Aylesford.
It opened in April last year without the use of ‘stopped vehicle detection technology’.
Meanwhile, Mr Scott added: “I hope the government will review their use and take action to make them safe, whether that is to increase the number of refuge areas or go back to having a hard shoulder system.”
Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps asked Highways England to make smart motorways safer, including the installation of radar to detect broken-down vehicles, during a Commons transport committee meeting.
In the session, he told the panel: “They are the safest form of road but I think they should be safer.”
Radar technology works by using sensors to detect stopped vehicles and then alerts a control room operator.
Lanes can then be closed using overhead signs and emergency services alerted within 20 seconds, says Highways England.
The organisers of the annual Kent Charity Awards (KCA) have announced an extension to the deadline for entries.
Charities, trustees and volunteers have until April 12 to put their name in the hat for the coveted prize.
The gala evening will now take place, either face-to-face, if restrictions allow, or virtually in early September.
Established in 2015, the awards have gone from strength-tostrength and are the highlight of the “third-sector” calendar in the county.
They are open to charities, both large and small.
Chairman of judges Susan Robinson, of Kreston Reeves, which is one of the sponsors, said: “The judges are pleased to be involved in the Kent Charity Awards for 2021.
“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to say well done and thank you for the hard work that often goes on under the radar.
“Without this sector, society would be a poorer place and we need to acknowledge their positive impact.
“We look forward to receiving lots of entries.”
Children and Families Ltd recently entered the Children’s Charity and Community Charity or Project of the Year award.
It tackles child poverty and food poverty across Kent and with the expansion of its premises, it has continued to deliver food weekly to more than 140 charities and community groups.
They are on course to support more than 200 charities and re-distribute over 425 tonnes of surplus food this year.
Entering the awards is free and a great way for good causes to gain exposure, increase stakeholder funding, build collaborations with other charities and can also be great for staff morale.
Paul Haines has been the co-chairman of the trustees of Nourish Community Foodbank for six years, and has been largely responsible for steering the growth and expansion of the organisation.
He has been nominated for the Trustee of the Year Award for his influence, determination and ambition when working with the charity.
Tina Thompson is up for the Volunteer of the Year Award, and has been a friend at Hextable-based charity, We Are Beams, for many years and always puts the needs of the children before her own.
Janis Smith, a helper at the Nourish Community Foodbank in Tunbridge Wells, has also been nominated in the volunteer category.
As well as looking after a large family, Janis has found time to make face masks, which she sells and has so far raised almost £7,000 for the good cause.
Carol Lewis has also been nominated for Volunteer of the Year Award for the hard work and time she has given to the West Faversham Community Centre throughout lockdown.
She is a volunteer who truly cares for her community and the wellbeing of others, while also having a full-time job working at Air Ambulance Kent, Surrey
‘Without this sector, society would be a poorer place and we need to acknowledge their positive impact’
and Sussex at their HQ at Rochester Airport.
As well as entering a charity for an award, people can also nominate a trustee of a charity, or a volunteer that they would like recognised for the great work they do.
The awards are sponsored by: The KM Media Group, Kreston Reeves, Kent County Council, Medway Council, Diggerland, CC Works, Kent Community Foundation, CAF Bank, Brachers, Financial Advice Services and AMEY.
Full details on how to enter and the background to the awards, can be found by visiting kentcharityawards.com