Four-officer patrol unit will tackle anti-social behaviour hotspots until November in partnership with private security firm.
Rowdy car meets keeping you awake? Troublemakers with catapults in the local park? Help’s coming.
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has launched a new Safer Neighbourhood Team to tackle anti-social behaviour across the borough. Four officers. Real powers. And they mean business.
Four Officers Hit the Streets
The team comes from TMS Protection Ltd – uniformed officers working in pairs on high-visibility patrols. They’ll cover every town and village across Tonbridge and Malling, kitted out with body-worn cameras and powers to enforce Public Space Protection Orders.
But this isn’t just about nicking people. The officers will chat directly with residents, local businesses and parish councils to understand what’s actually happening on the ground. Extra eyes and ears – that’s the idea. Deterring problems before they kick off and flagging emerging issues to the right authorities.
Rising Reports Tell the Story
The numbers don’t lie.
Kent Police received 1,859 reports of anti-social behaviour in Tonbridge & Malling during 2025/26. The previous year? Just 1,324. That’s a hefty 40% jump in twelve months, driven mainly by noise nuisance, dangerous car meets, and the peculiarly modern problem of catapults in parks.
Oddly, the council’s own ASB reports actually dropped – from 429 to 368. But the police figures tell the real story of what’s happening out there.
Building on Award-Winning Work
Cllr Des Keers, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said the launch shows the council’s “commitment to tackling” anti-social behaviour. He acknowledged ASB “is an issue in some parts of the borough” while emphasising this builds on their existing award-winning team.
Fair enough. The patrols run until November – plenty of time to see if they actually make a difference. Community safety sits “at the forefront” of council priorities, apparently. Though the temporary nature means residents better see results if they want this protection long-term.
What Happens Next
Success here will determine whether this becomes permanent. Parish councils across the borough get direct access to the team. Even smaller communities should see benefits beyond the main town centres.
Results will speak louder than promises.
Key Takeaways
- Four-officer Safer Neighbourhood Team launched by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council in partnership with TMS Protection Ltd
- Police ASB reports increased 40% year-on-year, from 1,324 to 1,859 incidents
- Officers will patrol until November, targeting car meets, noise nuisance and park-related anti-social behaviour
What This Means for Kent Residents
Live in Tonbridge, Malling or the villages? You’ll start seeing these uniformed patrols over the coming weeks. The team works directly with parish councils, so contact your local councillor if there are specific ASB hotspots you’d like them to prioritise.
The deployment runs until November – essentially a trial period. Your feedback and the results achieved will likely determine whether this becomes a permanent fixture for the borough.
New Safer Neighbourhood Team Launches Across Tonbridge and Malling Quiz
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