Tories Personal Attack on Police

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Residents in River Ward have this weekend received a shocking leaflet from Medway Conservatives launching into a personal tirade against Kent Police chief and public servent Ian Learmonth.

Ian has been a police officer since 1976 and has served in Essex, Strathcylde and Norfolk Constabularies. He has served the community for close to three decades upholding the law and working for residents.

This strange leaflet, posted through doors this weekend by the blue-rinse, directly attacks Kent Police Chief Constable Ian Learmonth and follows the resignation of David Craggs less than two weeks after being elected in the recent by-election in River Ward.

The personal attack, featuring the photo of Ian Learmonth with his policing award, comes days after the announcement that up to 1,500 jobs could be lost in Kent Police which would undoubtedly have a direct impact on crime rates, victim support and combating anti-social behaviour that blights parts of the ward.

The leaflet targeted Ian Learmouth directly and did not once mention the newly selected Conservative candidate for the ward by-election. It linked to a dated Police Manual written over five years ago, without any mention of the fact that the Kent Police website makes very clear that 'the list is not exhaustive. For more information contact the Special Constabulary recruitment department'.

Medway Conservatives and the the presumed River Ward candidate Alan MacKness support cuts to magistrate services, the politicisation of the Kent Police Authority and the front line cuts to bobbies on the beat across Rochester & Chatham.

Medway Labour Leader, Cllr Paul Godwin said

“As a member of the Kent Police Authority I have witnessed the holding of Kent Police to account in a robust manner by a mixture of local Councillors from the three main parties and independently appointed members. This has been done in a non partisan way to ensure that there is no party political interference in policing. However the recent antics of the local Tories following the debacle of their candidate resigning his Council seat in River ward two weeks after the election has sunk to new depths.”

Cllr Godwin continues;

“Why did they not clarify the position properly before the election rather than wasting local Council taxpayers some £10,000. Whatever the legal rights or wrongs of a special constable being an elected as a Councillor on behalf of a political party there is also a moral issue. The political impartiality of the police is critical to the health and well being of our democracy and any attempt to undermine it sends all of us on a very slippery slope.

Last year a Tory Councillor was cautioned by the police for kerb crawling in Chatham. Can you imagine if one of the officers involved in catching the individual concerned was another Tory Councillor and the potential conflict of interest that would arise.”

Cllr Vince Maple, Labour Election Agent for River Ward added;

”What the local Tories should be concentrating on is the impact of the 20% cuts to the policing budget over the next few years which will substantially reduce police numbers; rather than trying to blame someone else for their own incompetence.”

It is time the Tories stopped attacking the Police in River Ward and started to work with local bobbies to tackle the anti-social behaviour which is blighting parts of Rochester and Chatham.

Labour activists have been canvassing across the ward and the overwhelming message from voters is that the Tories should repay the money and that we now need someone who is going to work with the police and council to improve River ward.

The leaflet also patronises voters by suggesting that Labour will call the by-election. Residents will be aware that any resident can request a by-election independently and that it is likely that some will do so. That glaring fib raises the very serious question about other untruths within the statement.

Medway Tories have not apologised for their failure to vet the eligibility of the previous candidate and does not give any indication as to when they will pay the £10,000 cost of the by-election.