Kent Tonight - Tuesday 24th October 2023
Catch up on the latest news from across the county with Abby Hook.
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00:02 - Good evening and welcome to Kent Tonight live on KMTV.
00:28 I'm Abbey Hook, here are your top stories
00:30 on Tuesday the 24th of October.
00:34 One is too many, with hate crime offenses
00:37 nearing 1,800 in the last seven months,
00:40 Medway communities call for support.
00:43 - But we still have people who are still
00:45 not accepting the black people.
00:48 - A new chapter in Kent,
00:51 former Wasps legend Kenny Logan says Seven Oaks
00:54 offers a brighter future for the club.
00:57 - I don't think we're totally welcomed in Coventry sometimes
01:00 and we feel that the best place for us now
01:03 is to move to Kent.
01:05 - And put the brakes on, Medway disability campaigner
01:08 hopeful ticket office closure plans might be scrapped.
01:12 - They're overriding the needs and requirements
01:16 of disabled and elderly people
01:18 and other people that cannot use machines.
01:22 (upbeat music)
01:25 (upbeat music)
01:27 - First tonight, we're still fighting for equality.
01:36 The words of Medway African communities
01:38 discussing experiences of racism
01:40 at a Black History Month event.
01:42 While incidents of hate crime have fallen this year,
01:45 Kent police say one offense is one too many.
01:49 Officers say they'll continue to drive out discrimination
01:52 as Sophia Aiken has been finding out.
01:55 (footsteps)
01:57 Reports of race hate crime have fallen by 3% in Kent
02:02 since last year.
02:03 But Medway communities feel more needs to be done
02:06 to put a stop to discrimination.
02:09 This time last year, there were around 1800 incidents
02:12 of race hate crime reported to Kent police.
02:15 And this year so far, there have been around 1700 incidents.
02:19 While these numbers have fallen,
02:21 Kent police say it's still not enough.
02:24 - So we will continue to work hard with our communities.
02:27 We will continue with our scrutiny processes
02:30 to make sure that we do record crime properly,
02:33 to make sure that we do risk assess it properly
02:36 and have the very best investigations
02:38 and hold offenders to account for their actions.
02:40 So the census data, for example,
02:42 has been really helpful in us identifying
02:45 exactly where our diverse communities are.
02:47 The work that we do with our communities
02:50 enables us to really understand what their issues are,
02:53 what their concerns are, what we can do to help
02:57 both as an isolated service
03:00 and of course in partnership with others.
03:02 - Today we've seen members of Kent police come along
03:04 and join a local charity for a game of dominoes.
03:07 Dozens have come along
03:08 from Medway's Afro-Caribbean Association,
03:11 not just to play dominoes though,
03:12 to talk about some of those issues
03:14 that are particularly important
03:15 and need to be raised during Black History Month.
03:18 - Really pleased to see them come down
03:20 and engage with the community.
03:22 And that's what we're about really,
03:24 that people can just turn up.
03:25 It's open to everybody, regardless of their backgrounds.
03:29 It's really encouraging to see them here today.
03:32 So we celebrate 40 years next year.
03:35 So we've got lots of things happening.
03:37 So we started this, I think, nearly 40 years ago
03:40 out in the front room.
03:42 Like many black organisations,
03:44 the people that came over during the Windrush era
03:47 and before to kind of like,
03:50 we do a lot of work to say we Kent police
03:52 around looking at sort of stop and search,
03:54 issues around like hate crime.
03:56 - When we came in the early 60s, I came in '61, 1961,
04:01 the people here, the English people didn't know much
04:05 about people from the West Indies and black people.
04:08 So it was kind of difficult for them and for us
04:12 because they were racism.
04:13 They couldn't deal with us.
04:15 And we dealt with them because we didn't have a choice.
04:19 People didn't mix together
04:21 and they didn't talk to each other.
04:24 But now we're mixing.
04:25 We're eating each other food, which is very nice.
04:29 We dance into each other music, which is very nice.
04:32 We still have the racism group,
04:35 but if we can get talks like this,
04:37 and if we can get them to listen to what we went through,
04:41 things probably will change a bit.
04:44 - But can we drive down hate crime
04:45 if there's not enough ethnic diversity
04:48 within the force itself?
04:50 Nationally, just 1.3% of police officers are black.
04:54 And throughout history,
04:55 there have only been two black police officers appointed
04:58 as chief constable or assistant commissioner.
05:01 Michael Fuller worked for Kent police
05:03 and was Britain's first black chief constable,
05:06 but he was appointed 15 years ago.
05:09 While there have been officers
05:10 from other diverse ethnic backgrounds appointed,
05:13 some feel there isn't enough diversity.
05:16 - So it's incumbent upon us when we have events
05:18 like the national conference that we'll have in November,
05:22 that we're working with aspiring chief constables
05:26 of all backgrounds to make sure that they know
05:28 more about the recruitment process,
05:30 how we can best support it,
05:31 but also what it is that communities are looking for.
05:34 - The police take pride in knowing
05:35 the number of solved cases of hate crime
05:38 has doubled in the past five years, from 7% to 14%.
05:43 But say they'll continue to work hard
05:45 in stopping discrimination.
05:47 Sophia Akin for KMTV.
05:49 Anyone who has experienced hate crime
05:53 can get in touch with Kent police on 101 or on 999,
05:56 if of course it's an emergency.
05:58 This can also be reported on their website,
06:01 www.kent.police.uk.
06:04 Now next tonight, Wasps Rugby Union
06:07 has announced its intention to move to Kent
06:09 with a brand new stadium being built in Sevenoaks.
06:12 Former Wasps player and Scotland international Kenny Logan
06:16 says moving to the county will give fans hope
06:18 that the club can return back
06:20 to the highest level of the game.
06:22 Well joining me with more on this now
06:23 is our sports reporter Bartholomew Hall.
06:25 Bartholomew, what can you tell us about this?
06:27 - Yeah, so at the moment, first of all,
06:29 let's take you back to that announcement yesterday
06:31 from Wasps.
06:33 It said that it now intends to work
06:34 with Sevenoaks District Council
06:35 to try and identify a location that it can return to
06:39 or join, to move to here in the county.
06:44 Now one of those areas which has been put forward
06:46 is Pedham Place, which is on the outskirts of Swanley.
06:50 And we can see from the map here
06:52 that that area is currently used as a golf course.
06:55 There's a golf course there, there's also a driving range,
06:58 and some of that green space near where it says
06:59 golf centre there is used as a sort of car boot sale.
07:03 Now there's no knowing what's gonna happen
07:05 to the future of those sites.
07:06 There's absolutely no suggestion that the golf centre,
07:08 for example, will be closing down.
07:10 But that really is because we're not talking about
07:12 sort of planning permission here.
07:13 We're not talking about architectural plans
07:16 to build a stadium.
07:17 Really, this is all about the sites.
07:19 And this proposal has been put forward
07:21 as part of Sevenoaks District Council's call for sites
07:25 under its local plan.
07:26 Now we hear about local plans all the time here on KMTV.
07:28 It tends to be a sort of political back and forth.
07:31 It's essentially a local council's plan
07:33 over the course of 15 years of what it wants to build,
07:36 where, and when, really.
07:39 So that's a whole process that's got to be approved
07:42 by councillors, it's got to be scrutinised
07:45 in sort of by residents being able to talk back
07:49 to the council.
07:50 Once that all gets approved, it'll then go to a sort of
07:53 planning permission stage where residents will be able
07:56 to comment on it again.
07:57 And that's something that Sevenoaks District Council
07:59 has been telling us it's really keen to do.
08:01 It really wants to hear the thoughts of residents.
08:03 But it has also said that as a top tier club
08:05 with an international profile, it firmly believes
08:08 that this is a one in a generation opportunity.
08:10 And I mean, if you don't know anything about rugby union,
08:14 let me just say that Wasps is one of the oldest clubs
08:16 in the game.
08:17 It was there when rugby union was actually first formed.
08:20 Now this would be an absolutely significant move.
08:22 Here in Kent, we have lots of rugby union clubs.
08:25 If Wasps were to move, it would be by far
08:27 be the most prominent.
08:28 Now over the last 12 months, the club has been through
08:31 some financial difficulties, fell into administration
08:33 just over a year ago and was relegated from the premiership.
08:37 But just to get a bit more reaction, I spoke earlier today
08:40 to club legend and former Scotland international,
08:42 Kenny Logan.
08:43 And I started by asking him, why Kent?
08:46 - I mean, the thing about Wasps is we've moved around a lot
08:49 and we need to find a home where we can stay
08:51 for a long, long time and not go through
08:53 what we've gone through.
08:54 So we've been looking at different parts of the country
08:58 and, you know, Kent was somewhere that the council
09:01 approached us and we'd sort of looked at it anyway.
09:04 And then after that, we started to look more and more
09:07 into it and felt this was a really good place for us
09:09 to potentially move to.
09:11 In my view, for a fan now, we've had to go to the place
09:15 that we think is best for the club,
09:17 I think best for the fan base.
09:18 And, you know, I don't think we're totally welcomed
09:21 in Coventry sometimes.
09:23 And we feel that the best place for us now
09:26 is to move to Kent.
09:28 And I think from a fan, as I said earlier,
09:31 you know, we're coming back at some stage
09:34 and this gives the fans hope so they can still see
09:36 the Wasps team perform at the highest level.
09:39 - Well, in other sports news,
09:41 Gillingham are playing fan rivals Swindon this evening
09:45 in League Two in what could be the last game at the helm
09:47 for interim manager, Keith Millen.
09:49 It comes as Gillingham owner, Brad Gallington
09:52 is understood to be interviewing potential candidates
09:54 this week, according to a tweet made
09:56 by the American businessman last week.
09:59 Gillingham currently sit ninth in League Two
10:01 after three straight losses,
10:03 which saw them concede 10 goals.
10:06 We have a clip now to show you.
10:09 Here's Millen speaking after the Gills lost 2-1
10:12 against Notts County on Saturday.
10:14 - Well, we're gonna go there to win without a doubt.
10:18 And they are similar, Swindon, in respects of
10:21 their outlook to games.
10:23 They've had some big scoring.
10:26 They're a wide, expansive passing team.
10:29 So I've got to do my homework on that, obviously.
10:32 And it would be a case of,
10:35 which is probably the case for most of the season so far,
10:38 when we do have our chances and we create chances,
10:41 can we be a little bit more ruthless and take them?
10:44 - And lastly from me, Kent player, Zach Crawley
10:47 has been offered a two-year England central contract.
10:51 The county opener is one of 15 cricket players
10:54 to be presented with a two-year England international deal,
10:58 whilst key batsmen Joe Root and Harry Brook,
11:01 as well as Mark Wood, have been offered three-year contracts.
11:04 The former Tunbridge School pupil was England's top scorer
11:07 at this year's Ashes Series,
11:09 before going on to captain England
11:10 for the first time in three months,
11:12 in last month's three-match ODI series, rather,
11:16 against Ireland.
11:17 Former Kent captain and manager director of England,
11:20 Rob Key, said that all those players
11:22 who have been offered a contract will play a pivotal role
11:24 in England's efforts over the next few years.
11:27 Well, that's it from me with the sport.
11:29 (upbeat music)
11:32 - That was Bartholomew with the sport there.
11:42 Now it's time for a quick break,
11:44 but coming up, we'll have more news from across Kent
11:46 to bring you right here in the studio.
11:48 See you in just a few minutes time.
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15:05 - Hello and welcome back to Kentonite live on KMTV.
15:16 A father of four from Dover is still unconscious a week on
15:20 from a motorcycle accident while on holiday in Greece.
15:23 Kai Mathias was involved in a collision with a trolley bus.
15:26 It's a cross between a tram and a bus.
15:29 His family have flown out to support him
15:31 and crucially to find out if he has travel insurance.
15:34 His brother Dan has set up a GoFundMe page to try
15:37 and raise funds for medical costs.
15:39 I spoke to him earlier and started off by asking
15:42 how Kai was.
15:43 - He's stable, but he's in a critical condition.
15:47 He has a number of injuries.
15:50 He has a broken leg, a few kind of broken ribs.
15:55 He has the most concerning injury.
15:58 The doctors are telling us is a head injury that he has.
16:02 So as it stands that that's kind of the most concerning part
16:07 about the whole ordeal.
16:09 He's still currently under medical sedation.
16:11 So they're gonna assess him over the next seven days
16:16 and hopefully see if he has any improvements.
16:19 They're gonna try and bring him around.
16:22 So that's currently the most up-to-date news
16:24 I've had from the hospital.
16:27 - And how much do you actually know about the incident?
16:30 It was of course a motorcycle accident,
16:31 but how much detail do you know?
16:33 - The police report said that he was traveling
16:40 along a back street and collided with a trolley bus,
16:46 which is in kind of simple terms,
16:49 I think it's like one of the buses
16:52 that are like the double the length.
16:54 They have like the pivot section on the back,
16:56 but fairly large vehicle anyway.
16:58 It was quite unfortunate that that's what he collided with
17:03 'cause yeah, possibly the worst thing you could have chose.
17:08 - And something you're quite unsure of is
17:10 whether he has insurance or not,
17:11 or what kind of cover or protection he can have.
17:14 How concerning is that?
17:16 What are the next stages for you as his family?
17:19 - As it stands, we haven't been able to completely rule out
17:24 if he has insurance or not.
17:26 We're not able to access his phone.
17:28 So confirming his insurance status has been quite difficult.
17:32 The package holiday that he booked
17:35 definitely did not include insurance.
17:37 So unless he's taken out a third party policy,
17:42 as it stands, we're fairly sure that he doesn't have any.
17:46 So that's been quite a concern to be honest.
17:50 It's been the number one issue that,
17:52 well apart from the obvious kind of injuries
17:55 where the financial implications are looking quite dire.
18:00 - And of course, it's really hard to say what's next
18:04 or the time span you're looking at here,
18:06 but what is the sort of next stages
18:08 that you're looking into with sort of the hospital
18:10 and your family and getting Kai back home?
18:13 - As it stands, I'm the only family member
18:17 in Athens at the moment.
18:19 My dad flew back home yesterday
18:21 and him and my parents,
18:23 him and my mother, sorry, are flying back out on Thursday
18:27 and they don't have a return flight back.
18:29 So I think they're gonna try and stay here
18:33 until they can bring him back.
18:35 But as it stands, the hospital hasn't given me
18:37 an exact answer on when that will be.
18:41 Hopefully, I mean, the sooner the better,
18:43 but they haven't confirmed that when that date will be
18:47 or if it's even gonna be a possibility at the moment.
18:50 - And of course, all our thoughts are with Kai
18:53 and we'll be keeping up to date with Dan
18:55 as his progress goes on.
18:57 Now next tonight, a Kent disability campaigner
18:59 is hoping the plans to close ticket offices in England
19:02 will grind to a halt.
19:03 It comes as some MPs have warned the rail minister
19:06 that proposals could exclude some passengers
19:08 from railways altogether.
19:10 The rail delivery group says they will ensure
19:12 that all passengers are supported though.
19:15 Regardless, data shows that at many stations across Kent,
19:17 ticket offices are the most popular way
19:20 to actually buy them.
19:21 Well, Gabriel Morris has this report.
19:23 - Taking the train is a convenience for many passengers,
19:29 but a lifeline for thousands of people
19:32 across Kent with disabilities.
19:35 Wheelchair users say if plans to close ticket offices
19:38 go ahead, they could be left in limbo
19:41 with automated machines.
19:43 They say they don't currently provide
19:45 a full range of services
19:47 and many older machines are inaccessible.
19:50 A letter addressed to the rail minister,
19:52 Hugh Merriman from MPs of the Transport Committee
19:55 has listed a series of concerns.
19:58 It says the initial consultation was not accessible
20:02 and plans are going too far too quick.
20:06 - Do you think the government, rail companies,
20:08 will listen to this letter?
20:11 - I really hope so because otherwise
20:14 then they're overriding the needs and requirements
20:19 of disabled and elderly people
20:21 and other people that cannot use machines.
20:25 Got a feeling that it might slow down,
20:27 the pace of it might slow down,
20:29 the brakes might be put on a bit.
20:31 - Hugh Merriman hasn't yet responded to the letter,
20:34 but he is expected to.
20:37 But we have been sent this statement from the government.
20:40 They say while these are industry proposals,
20:42 we have been consistently clear
20:44 that the industry must ensure
20:46 that the quality of service for passengers
20:48 is maintained to a high standard.
20:51 The public consultation has now closed.
20:53 There will now be a review
20:55 and train operators will be responding shortly.
20:58 But how many people actually use tickets offices in Kent?
21:01 Southeastern published the figures
21:03 and we've been taking a look at some Kent stations
21:06 for the last year.
21:07 The picture is mixed.
21:09 Well, let's start with Ashford International.
21:12 65% of tickets are sold at a traditional ticket machine.
21:16 And it's worth noting this data
21:18 doesn't account for mobile ticketing.
21:20 Over to Dover Priory,
21:21 73% of tickets are sold at a ticket machine
21:25 compared to 27 at a automated machine.
21:29 What about Mepham,
21:30 a smaller station with fewer passengers
21:32 and a ticket office isn't always open?
21:35 Well, there 70% of tickets were sold
21:37 through automated machines.
21:39 So these offices do close what's proposed.
21:42 Southeastern say there will be 14 travel centres
21:44 at the busiest stations.
21:46 Face-to-face support will be available at every station
21:49 and those stations which are currently staffed
21:51 will remain staffed.
21:53 But those who were once behind the ticket office
21:56 will be redeployed.
21:58 And you might remember a consultation has just closed.
22:02 But this was for the London Metro area,
22:04 not Kent.
22:06 That consultation is expected to open in the coming weeks.
22:11 Gabriel Morris reporting there.
22:13 Well, this afternoon we have also learned
22:15 that travel cards will not be abolished
22:17 for Kent rail users.
22:20 Operators and the government have reached an agreement
22:23 with Transport for London
22:24 which now means day travel cards
22:25 can continue to be bought for journeys into the capital.
22:29 After months of speculation,
22:31 this will be welcome news to many campaigners
22:33 who have been calling for the card to remain.
22:35 The travel card allows users travelling into London
22:38 to use buses, the Tube and train service
22:40 for a discounted daily fee.
22:42 Great news for commuters here in Kent.
22:45 Now, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning
22:47 for Kent as downpours are forecasted this evening.
22:50 It starts in a few minutes time at 6pm
22:52 and ends at 10am tomorrow.
22:54 So let's see what it looks like where you are.
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23:03 Tonight looking fairly miserable.
23:05 Rain right across Kent.
23:06 Lows of 10, highs of 12 down in Dover.
23:10 Tomorrow morning looks much the same.
23:11 Warming up just slightly in some parts of Kent.
23:13 A bit of rain coming in too.
23:15 Bit of sunshine in some parts.
23:17 Drying up by the afternoon by 4pm.
23:19 13 degrees across most of Kent.
23:21 12 in Tunbridge Wells.
23:22 But the next few days right up until your weekend
23:24 look pretty miserable.
23:25 Pretty mixed too.
23:26 Temperatures around 14 to 16.
23:28 Sunshine and rain.
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23:38 And finally this evening,
23:39 putting Faversham on the map.
23:41 Well, rather on a board.
23:43 The Mid Kent area has been transformed
23:45 onto one of the most famous games in the whole world.
23:48 A new Monopoly board featuring businesses
23:51 and landmarks from the town,
23:52 such as the pools and of course the Shepherd Neam brewery.
23:55 The medieval market towns version was confirmed last May
23:59 with bosses behind the project raising £60,000
24:02 to make the dream a reality.
24:04 Well, I'm very pleased to say joining me now in the studio,
24:06 the force behind this all is Liz Geoffrey.
24:08 Liz, thank you so much.
24:10 What an incredible achievement.
24:12 It looks amazing to think we can see somewhere in Kent
24:16 on a Monopoly board.
24:17 Tell us a bit about the process.
24:18 A long time coming.
24:20 Yeah, so I commissioned a game for my daughters
24:23 about six years ago and everyone said,
24:26 wouldn't it be wonderful to have a Faversham version
24:29 of the game.
24:30 Didn't really understand quite what was involved in that.
24:34 So I've been thinking about it for six years
24:36 and actually working on it for nearly two now.
24:38 Amazing.
24:39 And it costs quite a bit of money, £60,000.
24:43 How did you raise that and how are you going to be able
24:45 to get income from that and make it sort of even more worthwhile,
24:49 I suppose?
24:50 So the combination of things, first of all,
24:53 fantastic businesses that sponsored it
24:55 and just love being part of it.
24:58 We had residents from local roads crowdfunding
25:02 to get their own square to be on it.
25:05 Some of the chance and community chess cards
25:08 were also sponsored.
25:10 We've run events like quiz nights
25:12 and various other bits and pieces to raise money.
25:17 And people that are living in Faversham watching this right
25:20 now, they might be thinking, what will I
25:22 recognise on the board?
25:23 So tell us some of the really key landmarks
25:25 that are featured.
25:26 They will definitely recognise the board.
25:28 All of the public have voted for what's on there.
25:30 So some of the big ones, Faversham markets, the pools.
25:37 We've got St. Jude's Church on there.
25:41 We've got Sheppard Neame.
25:43 So there's an awful lot.
25:44 An awful lot.
25:45 I'm going to actually have a sneak peek.
25:46 You're, of course, appearing in our Made in Kent
25:48 this evening as well, where we'll
25:49 be going into a lot more detail with this.
25:51 I'll leave that up to Sophia.
25:52 But for a few things, for a bit of a sneak peek,
25:55 so advance to J plumbing and heating, Whitstable Road.
26:00 If you pass, go collect 200.
26:01 And you've got all the logos and everything
26:03 you would expect on a monopoly there.
26:05 It is quite incredible.
26:07 Where can people get hold of this?
26:08 How can they buy it?
26:09 So they can buy it online via my website, which
26:12 is shortwaymarketing.co.uk.
26:17 There's also various shops around Faversham
26:19 that are selling it.
26:20 And I'll be doing the best of Faversham markets in November.
26:25 Amazing.
26:25 And what's the price for it?
26:26 £35.
26:27 At least £5 of that is going back to local charities.
26:30 Amazing.
26:31 And hopefully, you'll inspire other areas in Kent.
26:35 And we'll get a whole county monopoly board on the go.
26:37 Thank you so much for coming in.
26:39 We've got you on in Maiden, Kent just after the break.
26:42 So stick around, and you can hear lots more
26:43 from Liz and her monopoly.
26:45 See you soon.
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