Crime and anti-social behaviour can have a huge impact on the places we live.

I visited Shepway last week with Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, and local councillors, to hear how crime is affecting people’s lives and businesses.

There is some really good work being done locally and getting extra police officers and PCSOs in Maidstone is another step in the right direction.

But talking to local residents, it’s clear there is more work to do.

Things like better CCTV can make a big difference in helping prevent crime and making people feel safe. That’s why I’ve asked Maidstone Borough Council to reinstall CCTV on the parade of shops on Northumberland Road.

As part of my visit, I chaired a meeting in the Shepway Youth and Community Centre with youth workers, faith leaders, the local Police Community Support Officer, and councillors, to talk about some of the challenges in this particular area.

Good youth services are really important for giving young people something to do, but we also need role models to provide aspiration and hope for the future. I’m delighted to be supporting a youth event in November, organised by County Councillors Paul Cooper and Gary Cooke.