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Catch up with all your latest news from across the county with Nailah Mahomed.
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00:33Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live here on KMTV. I'm Naila Mahamud with your top stories on Wednesday, the
00:407th of October.
00:41Pressure on police. Kent's police and crime commissioner says early release scheme will raise crime rates.
00:47This government has chosen to make this decision and there is a risk that crime will increase as a result.
00:53Sending a signal. Real residents threatened by broadband cutoff later this month.
00:58It's like, we're worse than a third world country.
01:03And raising a glass to history. Winemakers partnered with the British Museum to create a Bayou tapestry inspired mead.
01:10It's like a moment in history for people to take home and enjoy at home and reminisce about what those
01:15times might have been like.
01:30First tonight, Kent's police and crime commissioner says the early release scheme is putting additional pressure on police and increasing
01:38crime levels.
01:39This comes as they receive new government funding to help them support victims impacted by the scheme.
01:44And some people here in Medway said they're also concerned about the impact of releasing prisoners who haven't served their
01:50full sentence back into the community.
01:52I swear to our reporter Sophie Denny outside Medway police station about this earlier today.
01:57What can you tell us about the scheme?
02:02Yes, so I'm here outside Medway police station and that's because Kent police as a whole have just received £195
02:10,000 from the Ministry of Justice.
02:13And that's to support victims who are impacted by the early release scheme.
02:18Now that's where prisoners are being released early from prisons before serving their full sentences.
02:23And Kent police say that they're going to use this to set up a victims champion scheme and that will
02:29provide practical assistance and support for victims over the next two years.
02:34And I spoke to Matthew Scott, who is the Kent police and crime commissioner, about this earlier today.
02:41I prefer these people would be staying in prison to fill longer of their sentences.
02:46However, this grant will enable those people, the victims who are impacted by this, to receive support.
02:51There's a big pressure being placed on policing, a big pressure being placed on the probation service.
02:57Kent police will respond really well to this.
02:59We have teams who are available to enforce breaches of certain orders and work with the probation service on this.
03:05But I'm absolutely clear about this.
03:07This government has chosen to make this decision and there is a risk that crime will increase as a result.
03:12So we heard there Matthew Scott speaking about an increase in crime and the re-offending rate in the UK
03:20is just under 30 percent.
03:22And he was telling me that according to the National Police Chief's Council, as a result of this early release
03:28scheme to reduce overcrowding in prisons,
03:31we could see an increase of up to 6 percent in crimes, and this could cost the police up to
03:36480 million pounds.
03:39So huge ramifications both for staffing and costs there for the police.
03:44We can see he didn't seem particularly happy about the scheme or the funding, but what do members of the
03:49public have to say about it?
03:53Yes, so it directly impacts members of the public, and I spoke to some of them earlier this afternoon.
03:59Is it ever enough?
04:02No matter how much money is thrown at these things, it never appears to be enough.
04:07It's all well and true, but they're still out.
04:10They're still out.
04:11200 grand or no 200 grand.
04:12These prisoners, these people have still been released early, and it's just not right.
04:17It's not right.
04:17They need protection, absolutely, and they need peace of mind, and they need to be kept well away.
04:23So I think that's down to the police to make sure that that happens.
04:25If there is early release for domestic abuse, then yeah, absolutely, they need to be kept away and monitored by
04:33the police force.
04:34Thank you for the update on the scheme, Sophie.
04:37We contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment, but have not yet heard back.
04:43The man accused of murdering former Kent MP Ann Whittacombe has been charged with a terrorist offence against another political
04:50figure.
04:51Joshua Kerry, who was charged with the murder of former Maidstone MP Ann Whittacombe, appeared in court earlier, accused of
04:58preparing terrorist acts in a separate case.
05:01Chloe Brewster is here on the show, but we'll need to discuss this further.
05:04Now, Chloe, this is really unexpected news.
05:07What do we know about these additional charges that he's facing?
05:10Well, we know Joshua Kerry, who we can see on screen behind us now.
05:15We knew him, as you say, for the charge of the murder of Ann Whittacombe back in July.
05:19But we heard today that he had his first hearing for a totally separate case, and that was a criminal
05:24case with preparing terrorist acts between May 2024 and July 2026.
05:29And that was taking place at Westminster Magistrates Court.
05:33Within that court, the court heard that Kerry had been attempting to carry out an online reconnaissance on prominent people.
05:40It's alleged he travelled to reform leader Nigel Farage's home when his partner, they weren't there,
05:45but his partner arrived home to see damage on the door and a bottle of lighter fluid on the porch.
05:51The court heard that a tool mark from a 27mm blade was found on the doorframe, and they believed he
05:57was attempting to gain entry to the property.
06:00It was only an early court appearance today, meaning we don't know much more than that.
06:05We'll find out much more when we see the later hearings.
06:09Kerry spoke only to identify himself, and he was wearing just grey jogging bottoms and a sweatshirt.
06:15This case was actually only brought back into the limelight in August, with the counter-terror police reopening a year
06:21-long probe into the alleged attack.
06:23So, into the Terrorist Act's investigation, they'd actually dropped it originally, but following Whittacombe's murder, they reopened it,
06:33and they said there was a line of inquiry that they hadn't yet identified, and they decided to pursue that.
06:38So, this is the result of that investigation.
06:40Well, thank you so much for joining us today, Chloe.
06:46A major search operation was launched off Deal Beach following reports of a person in the water.
06:52Pictures show crew searching areas of the English Channel near the town's pier.
06:58Multiple emergency service vehicles, including a Coast Guard helicopter and lifeboats, were spotted shortly before 6.30 a.m.
07:04The RNLI confirmed warmer lifeboats were tasked to report of a person in the water shortly before 7.00 a
07:11.m.
07:12Searches were carried out, but no one was found in need of assistance.
07:16Police officers also attended the scene.
07:20This shocking video captures the moment bikers threw gas canisters at a woman's car in Chatham.
07:26It shows the suspect stopped by the side of the white car before throwing laughing gas canisters in a drive
07:32-by incident.
07:33The motorcyclist, who wore balaclavas, targeted the vehicle while it was parked in Waghorn Street.
07:38It was the fourth attack on the victim's vehicle in two months, with Kent police saying they're committed to carrying
07:44out a full investigation.
07:48Residents in a rural village fear they might be left without internet or landline phone signal.
07:54Broadband provider Truly started works in August to upgrade copper wires to fibre ones,
07:59but then abandoned them, leaving residents in the dark and warning villagers they would stop providing a connection by late
08:06October.
08:06A local democracy reporter, Megan Shaw, went to the Weald to find out more.
08:11It's like, we're worse than a third-world country.
08:16A rural village, soon to be cut off from the outside world.
08:20That could be the reality of residents from Hunton.
08:23Now, this box behind me is what provides connection to houses on E Street.
08:28Copper wires go under the floor and provide those houses with broadband, but that might not be for much longer.
08:35We truly have already given notice to some residents behind me in E Street that their connectivity is going to
08:43be terminated.
08:45We've already got BT giving notice they have to upgrade and terminate copper connections,
08:51and there's no real plan being told to residents how this is going to happen and what's going to happen
08:58to their connection.
09:00Works had already started in August to replace the existing copper wiring with newer fibre ones,
09:06but they suddenly stopped with no explanation.
09:10And Provider Truly told residents that the Open Reach copper broadband switch-off will be October 23rd.
09:17But in a rural village, broadband is vital.
09:21If the copper is being taken away, then people won't have a landline anymore,
09:25and I understand that's happening nationally in some stage in the next year or so.
09:30So my worries for the single elderly constituents who rely purely on the landline
09:38to keep in touch with family or to be talked to by doctors.
09:42Now, the buildings behind me represent what some of these residents might be forced to do in the future,
09:47and that's to rely on satellite connections rather than broadband that will come under cables in the floor.
09:54The main downside is, though, is that it's much more expensive.
09:57But it's not just hunting.
09:58Across the county, broadband coverage in rural Kent is patchy,
10:02with 270 of the 272 properties unable to access decent broadband in Ashford being in the countryside.
10:10Ofcom found that 93% of properties in Kent without good connection are in rural areas.
10:18Yes, so it's widespread across Kent, and especially in the world.
10:23The world is proper widespread with it.
10:25So in Nettlestead, 40% of them will lose their internet.
10:32When we got in contact with Truly, they explained that the provider couldn't confirm a date
10:38for when works to extend fibre coverage would be completed,
10:42and that Truly also confirmed that the existing connection couldn't be maintained
10:47after that cut-off in late October.
10:50Truly confirmed that eight customers in this area will be impacted,
10:54and for them, it's a race against time before they could be off the grid indefinitely.
10:59Megan Shaw in Huntington.
11:01Drivers are set to be banned from parking in Favisham Town Centre amid safety concerns.
11:08Counselors have backed a new controlled parking zone across much of the town centre
11:12amid concerns about vehicles clogging Court Street, Marketplace and Middle Row.
11:17Business owners say vehicles have blocked delivery points,
11:20prevented cafes from putting out tables and chairs,
11:22and stopped traders setting up for the market.
11:25But opponents say it will simply push the parking issues elsewhere.
11:29Despite concerns, Swellborough Council have agreed to the first level of approval
11:33before another meeting next month and approval by Kent County Council.
11:39Well, that's all the time we have for in this part of the show,
11:42but don't go anywhere because we've got plenty more coming up after the break.
11:45Our local democracy reporter Megan Shaw will take us behind the headlines
11:48about some of the key takeaways from the various party conferences that took place this week.
11:54All that and so much more, so grab a cup of tea and we'll see you very soon.
11:57Bye for now.
12:38Bye for now.
13:07Bye for now.
13:37Bye for now.
14:06Bye for now.
15:22Hello, and welcome back to Ken Tonight Live here on KMTV.
15:27Kami Badenoch's speech at the Conservative Party conference today brought conference season for the main players to a close,
15:33after the other four major parties in England previously held their own conferences.
15:38Party conferences offered a chance for politicians, party members and stakeholders to shape future policy and outline future campaigns.
15:46But what were the headlines this year?
15:48Well, a local democracy reporter, Megan Shaw, joins me on the studio.
15:52Now, so, Megan, what were the key takeaways from this year's conferences?
15:56Absolutely. Obviously, you know, a very exciting time of year for journalists and, you know, political journalists, especially like myself,
16:02will go in the order that, you know, they happen.
16:05We're talking about the main parties in England.
16:07Obviously, there's the SNP conference coming up, but that's not relevant to us down here in Kent.
16:12So, Reform UK, they announced what they would do should they get into government.
16:17They announced what they'd do for their first 100 days.
16:20Here's some of the things that would entail.
16:21So, Farage said he'd declare a national emergency on his first day.
16:25Deputy Leader Richard Tice announced a 250 cut to energy bills that would be funded through things like scrapping carbon
16:31taxes on generators.
16:33They also wanted to cut student loan issuance by 20%, lift caps on medical places and introduce 0% interest
16:40loans for nursing students.
16:41Interestingly, they wanted to raise the personal allowance up to £15,000.
16:45The reason that's interesting is because that is the same policy put forward by the Liberal Democrats, who are next
16:51on my list.
16:52They hosted their conference in Brighton.
16:54Not only did they put forward that, they also put forward a flurry of tax cuts.
16:58They want to raise the 40p income tax from just over £50,000 to £56,000.
17:03And they said that would be funded by rejoining the EU single market.
17:09So, Ed David, the leader, also came out quite sceptical of AI.
17:12And he also pledged £600 million to maternity services, calling for one-to-one midwife care for those in Labour.
17:20Speaking of Labour, a different kind, Labour's party conference received a lot of attention for how different the new leader
17:27of the Labour party and the PM, Andy Burnham, took to the stage compared to his predecessor, Sakia Starmer.
17:32So, should he be re-elected, the PM said he wants to create a new national care service that would
17:37largely be funded by scrapping the triple lock on the state pension.
17:40That was quite controversial.
17:42He also pledged for greater public control of water, greater powers against the landlords, a publicly owned energy grid, a
17:48closer relationship with Europe and electoral reform.
17:51But for the Green Party, the biggest headline that came out for them, that really overshadowed everything else, was that
17:57they passed a motion declaring Zionism as racism that received a lot of backlash.
18:02They wanted to nationalise Thames water and South-East water really quite quickly.
18:06And that brings us to today, they had the Conservative Party.
18:08They mainly, their main thing was to scrap inheritance, tax on family homes.
18:14But let's also hear from the leader of the Conservatives, Kemi Badenoch, because she gave a shout out to the
18:20late Anne Whittacombe.
18:22Let me take a moment, please, to remember two great friends we've lost recently.
18:28The indomitable Anne Whittacombe, a formidable politician, never afraid to speak her mind.
18:43She always fought for what she believed in, and her politics were guided by her faith and her values.
18:52NHS Kent and Medway has been selected as one of the first areas in England to take part in the
18:57national Steps to Safety programme,
19:00helping improve support for people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
19:04It's a nationally funded programme that aims to create stronger referral pathways between GP practices and specialist support services.
19:12I spoke to Jenny Hall, who is the Chief Nurse of NHS Kent and Medway, about this new programme and
19:17what it means earlier today.
19:19So Jenny, thanks so much for joining me today.
19:21Why has Kent and Medway been selected as the first area in the country to take part in this first
19:27phase of the scheme?
19:29Because we think it's very important that we are able to support both adults and children that are suffering from
19:38domestic abuse and domestic violence.
19:40And this is an opportunity for us to enhance the services that we've already got in Kent and Medway,
19:46with particular focus on primary care, that's for GPs, and people being able to access services through their GPs.
19:55So that's why it's important for us, and we are delighted to be part of the first wave of ICBs
20:01to be rolling out this particular service.
20:05And have you seen that there's been a growing need for support among families and children in domestic violence and
20:12abuse households for the scheme to be taking place?
20:15Yes, it's part of a national scheme.
20:18It's part of being able to support women and children experiencing abuse and violence.
20:26It's a national policy around reducing that.
20:30And Kent and Medway are very much front and centre of that.
20:33And I think as we hear more and more stories about people experiencing this abuse,
20:40it's really important that we're able to respond to that.
20:43And sometimes it's hidden, and sometimes people are experiencing quite difficult circumstances,
20:49and if we can signpost them to services to get the right support that they need, that's incredibly important.
20:57And how does the programme intend to effectively safeguard those who do have trauma because of their domestic abuse
21:03and their sexual violence, who may therefore be afraid of GPs?
21:09There are existing services that women and children can access.
21:13This particular programme of work is building on those.
21:17And it is making sure also that through them attending their GP,
21:23seeing their GP sometimes for something that may be different,
21:26and then they feel able to talk about their domestic abuse or violence that they're undergoing,
21:31that the GPs then are able to signpost them to services.
21:35And as I've said, we've got existing services.
21:38They are largely led by OASIS, and anyone can go to those services if they feel they need to,
21:46but we want to provide additional routes for them to be able to do that.
21:50And as I've said, we've got a recognised problem down here in Kent and Medway,
21:54so it's very important we respond to that.
21:57And let's take a look at the weather for the coming days.
22:04Well, this evening we'll see a cool and dry night, temperatures sticking around 8 to 12 degrees across the county,
22:09loads of 8 there in Maidstone.
22:11Into tomorrow morning, many of us will wake up to clear skies, 9 degrees in Medway,
22:15and 10 degrees there in Canterbury.
22:17Heading into the afternoon, we'll see 15 degrees across the board,
22:20the cloudy and grey outlook for the day.
22:23And looking towards the weekend, we'll see a rainy start there on Friday,
22:26before the rain leaves us with clouds for Saturday and Sunday,
22:30temperatures sticking around 16 to 18 degrees there.
22:40The RSPCA is urging people to consider adopting, not shopping, this October,
22:46as rescue teams struggle with rising cases of numerous animals at a single address.
22:50New data found that staff are dealing with an average of 410 cases a month,
22:55involving 10 or more pets in single addresses.
22:58Many of these animals rescued have behavioural and medical issues.
23:01And I've heard from Becky Blackmore from the RSPCA about this earlier.
23:05I've been working in animal rescue for 35 years,
23:08and I don't think I've ever seen the situation so bad with so many unwanted animals
23:12that haven't got homes, particularly cats, for whom we're facing a real crisis at the moment.
23:17It's interesting where the animals that come to the RSPCA come from.
23:21You know, some of them might be individual stray animals,
23:24but more and more we're having to rescue animals from multi-animal situations.
23:29So that might be a pet owner who had some mice, some cats, didn't get them neutered,
23:34and numbers just spiral out of control very quickly.
23:37Or sometimes it's breeders, people who are breeding a particular type of dog,
23:41or we recently took in 20 rabbits, a very fancy, quite rare variety.
23:46Somebody was breeding, and then the breeding gets out of control.
23:50People find that they can't sell them for the money they wanted.
23:52And we'll be taking on quite unusual breeds of animals as well.
23:56And it's really challenging for us to take sometimes, you know,
24:0150, 100 animals out of one household.
24:03And they won't have had much one-to-one care,
24:05but they're a lovely animal and they're a blank canvas for somebody to take on and adopt.
24:10A multi-million pound plan to build a modern hospice and community care hub
24:14has received a major funding boost.
24:16More than £3 million has been awarded towards the project,
24:19which will provide palliative and end-of-life care
24:21alongside wider health and care services.
24:24Heart of Kent Hospice is planning to build the purpose-built facility in Linton,
24:28with Maidstone Council approving the money towards its construction.
24:31The fund comes from its community infrastructure programme,
24:35payments collected from developers to help fund infrastructure needed as an area grows.
24:45And finally tonight, winemakers have teamed up with the British Museum
24:49to produce a limited-edition mead inspired by the bio-tapestry.
24:53Bitterton Vineyards in Tunbridge made the mead to give museum visitors a taste of history.
24:58This comes as the tapestry has returned to England and has been loaned to the British Museum.
25:02Our community reporter, Henry Luck, has more.
25:05Bitterton Vineyards has produced a limited-edition mead in time for the Bayeux Tapestry,
25:12returning to the UK for the first time in a thousand years.
25:17Mead is made using fermented fruits and honey,
25:21which gives it its iconic amber colour and rich taste.
25:25This brand-new Kent-made mead has been inspired by the art that has captured audience imaginations
25:33for almost a thousand years.
25:36The Bayeux Tapestry is a massive piece of cloth that stretches for almost 70 metres
25:42and tells some of the most famous stories in European history,
25:47such as the Norman Conquest back in 1066.
25:52Bitterton Vineyards is well-known for its award-winning wines, ciders and juices,
26:00and this new drink was developed using modern and traditional techniques.
26:06It was more from the museum's point of view that it was a nice moment in history
26:14for people to take home and enjoy at home and reminisce about what those times might have been like.
26:19So it was a way of people feeling more in touch with what was happening, you know, a thousand years
26:25ago.
26:27Really, really cool to be involved in it as a project.
26:31The drink will be available to buy exclusively from the British Museum in London during the exhibition
26:38and will be presented with a label inspired by the tapestry.
26:43With the display lasting until July next year,
26:46there's plenty of time to grab a bottle and raise a glass to history.
26:51Henry Luck for KMTV.
26:55See you tomorrow night. Bye-bye for now.
26:57We'll see you tomorrow night.