Matthew Scott And Martin Round (Image: KENTLIVE)
A once peaceful village in Kent has been nicknamed the ‘Wild West’ due to a recent surge in crime and anti-social behaviour.
One local, a man in his early 60s, shares a story about a shop owner in Headcorn chasing two young boys out of his store with a broom. The boys, who were no older than 11 or 12, found it amusing, but the shop owner’s frustrated expression told a different story.
The scene reminded the local of a saloon owner shooing away drunks in an old Western film. Stories of bad parking, speeding, vandalism, public defecation, drug use, drunkenness, shoplifting and fighting are becoming all too common in the village.
There is a growing Traveller community in the village. Some people have blamed this group for the increase in crime, but locals think they are being unfairly targeted.
On a rainy Thursday morning, Rev Fiona Haskett rushes into St Peter and St Paul’s church, looking soaked from her walk up the graveyard path. Despite the rain, daffodils and snowdrops are blooming side by side, a rare sight in February, reports The Kent Live.
Rev Haskett has been a pillar of the village for nine years, known for her dedication and straight-talking nature, always with a gentle touch. She shared a shocking story about some youths who made a mess at the local Sainsbury’s, grabbing stuff off the shelves, then dashing out to a waiting car that zoomed away.
Church (Image: Google)
Shop owners are scared to stop thieves because they might get yelled at or worse. It’s not rare for these bad guys to threaten people or carry scary weapons.
Councillor Martin Round, who looks after Headcorn on the council, said: “There is evidence of people coming in from the outside to steal from shops knowing the Travellers will get the blame and they will not be challenged much less arrested or convicted. “There is a rogue element in every society and the travellers round here are no exception.
“But I speak as I find and the vast majority of the Gypsy and Traveller community are absolutely charming, decent people.”
A person who helps the community but didn’t want their name out there said not having enough police is the big problem. “If you had a pair of bobbies patrolling the village three mornings or afternoons a week, the problem would be fixed or at least contained,” he believes.
Joseph Jones, who runs the Gypsy Council, said: “You get good and bad in all levels of society and ours is no different. The Traveller gets the blame for everything it’s been going on for years and years and years.”
“If it’s fly-tipping, the Travellers get the blame. If it’s young people getting into mischief, it’s often because they’re full of testosterone but it’s same in all society. One thing we do have is respect of our elders and the young people listen. That’s how we sort it out.”
Mr Jones believes that a lack of police presence is a problem. He says: “Every public service is being starved of funding, including the police. Our community respects the police and the rule of law. There are no local bobbies any more. When we were young, the local bobby would be on his bike and or grey scooter and would take the time to sit down with us, have a cup of tea or a bacon sandwich.”
“He would know every single one of us and it worked well. The only time you see a police officer now is flying by in a car.”
On February 15, he invited the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, to Headcorn to see for himself the issues the village faces.
“He’s in the picture now,” says Cllr Round. There are moves behind the scenes to get a representative of the Traveller community onto the parish council as a bridge between the encampments on the Lenham Road and the settled villagers.
Following his visit, Mr Scott shared: “I was pleased to hear the positive feedback for the two new beat PCs, who have been working in the town in partnership with the parish council and community warden. I heard some improvement in the response to shop thefts too. More resources are being put into neighbourhood policing in the coming weeks which will help boost the presence in local communities further.”
“We had helpful conversations about the challenges still being experienced and I will be raising them with Kent Police, as I promised to do, on behalf of both individuals and the businesses I spoke to, so they get the support they need. There’s more that can be done and the expanded neighbourhood policing model means more help is on the way.”
Headcorn’s population, according to the 2011 census, was just 3,387 but growing to 4,283 a decade later. With government-led housing targets, this number is expected to keep on rising, whether Headcorn likes it or not.
This April, an application for 120 additional homes in the village will be examined. If given the green light, this development will join many others built because of housing needs.
Cllr Martin Round indicates that according to government figures, there might be around 400 stationary and mobile domiciles on Headcorn’s outskirts, potentially housing roughly 640 people.
The gypsy and traveller area review (GTAA) by Maidstone Borough Council forecasts this number could surge to 543 pitches, as itemised in its Local Plan.
