Kent Police launches Clear, Hold, Build anti-crime initiative in Chatham town centre

Medway Council has confirmed that Clear, Hold, Build has been launched in Chatham’s New Road area, where residents have previously reported antisocial behaviour linked to drug dealing and alcohol-related incidents. The initiative in Chatham is part-funded by the Home Office, aligning with a national roll-out of Clear, Hold, Build across England and Wales for tackling serious and organised crime.

The Three-Phase Approach

The clear phase involves intensive enforcement and sustained police activity to remove those responsible for crime and antisocial behaviour from the target area, including criminals and their associates. The hold phase focuses on high-visibility patrols, ongoing enforcement, and joint work with partner agencies and community groups to stabilise the area and prevent another group from taking control.

The build phase involves working with residents, local authorities, housing providers, and other partners to rejuvenate and improve the local area, strengthen community cohesion, and reduce vulnerability to exploitation.

National Programme Implementation

Clear, Hold, Build has been highlighted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing as an approach that ties serious and organised crime disruption into neighbourhood policing, integrating enforcement with community problem-solving. The national Clear, Hold, Build model has been adopted by police forces in England and Wales after pilot schemes showed early results against serious and organised crime.

The Home Office has funded Clear, Hold, Build operations in several areas nationally, and has commissioned an evaluation that reports early impacts in pilot sites, including reductions in crime and increased community confidence, though outcomes can vary by area.

Local Partnership Working

Local partners named in official Medway Council information for the Chatham Clear, Hold, Build project include Medway Council, Kent Police and mhs homes, with community engagement activities used to launch the scheme. The Medway launch of Clear, Hold, Build was publicised around a community event organised with a local housing provider, indicating an emphasis on visible community engagement alongside enforcement.

Clear, Hold, Build focuses on place-based harm, targeting locations where serious and organised crime and associated antisocial behaviour are concentrated, rather than only focusing on specific organised crime groups. In Chatham, the stated aim of the initiative is to improve the lives of people affected by crime and antisocial behaviour and to ensure a safer environment in and around the town centre.

Home Office Backing

The initiative forms part of a national response to serious and organised crime, with core aims to reduce the serious and organised crime threat, reduce crime overall, and make communities more resilient in the long term, according to a Home Office evaluation. Medway Council’s information on the Chatham scheme states that the local operation is part of this national Clear, Hold, Build programme, tailored to address specific issues identified in and around Chatham’s town centre and nearby residential streets.

Key Takeaways

• Kent Police has launched Clear, Hold, Build in Chatham’s New Road area to tackle drug dealing and antisocial behaviour
• The three-phase approach involves clearing criminals, holding the area with high-visibility patrols, and building community resilience
• The initiative is part-funded by the Home Office as part of a national programme across England and Wales

Impact for Kent Residents

Residents in Chatham town centre and the New Road area can expect increased police presence, targeted operations against suspected offenders, and more visible partnership activity aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour and crime. The initiative may affect rejuvenation of Chatham town centre, which could impact local businesses, visitors and workers through changes such as increased patrols, possible closure orders on problem premises, and environmental improvements. Kent residents more widely may see similar Clear, Hold, Build operations in other parts of the county if the Chatham initiative is assessed as successful and further Home Office funding or national expansion is secured.