Matthew Scott

Home
United Kingdom
Maidstone
Matthew Scott

Directions Website

Promoted by Tom Mobbs on behalf of Matthew Scott both at Paddock Wood Business Centre, TN12 6EN

Matthew Scott is Conservative candidate for Kent Police and Crime Commissioner on Thursday 6 May 2021.

18/09/2026

I spent the morning in speaking with shoppers and business, promoting my Annual Policing Survey.

This is now live for you to fill out at https://bit.ly/3UOM1Ct or by visiting the Public Engagement section of my website.

This survey will help set next year’s policing priorities, so please do let me know your views.

16/09/2026

This morning I have been at East Kent College in Dover for their Fresher’s Fayre - and it’s the first stall I have done for the 2026 Annual Policing Survey.

Details will be published online survey for residents and businesses shortly to access the survey, which I use to set priorities for Kent Police.

13/09/2026

I visited Chatham Town Centre on Friday morning where Kent Police was undertaking a trial deployment of Live Facial Recognition (LFR).

The deployment for LFR started under the previous Government and is now being expanded across the county.

Prior to this weekend’s deployment, I asked a series of questions about the use of technology, so that I could be assured about the use and deletion of data and its proportionate policing use.

I also conducted a survey of Kent residents which came back as 85% in favour of its use.

Early on Friday they had already achieved a number of arrests, and I look forward to the full results being collated by the Force.

For more information, visit https://www.kent.police.uk/police-forces/kent-police/areas/kent-police/about-us/about-us/facial-recognition/

09/09/2026

It’s National Rural Crime Action Week, so this morning I joined the brilliant Kent Police Rural Task Force for a property marking event at Ashford Cattle Market.

The machines that I funded for the team have been put to excellent use, with lots of businesses benefiting from their property being marked. It has also helped the team identify and return stolen equipment.

It’s also Back British Farming Day, and this is just one small way we can back our superb Kent farmers in tackling rural crime.

08/09/2026

Following its internal debrief, Kent Police has acknowledged that an opportunity was missed which could have enabled the Force to mobilise sooner and bring the disruption to an end more quickly.

I welcome that there will be an independent learning review by the College of Policing. I have asked that this examines how information is triaged by the Force and the communications strategy the Force deployed in response to the event.

I look forward to receiving the findings of that review. I will ensure that Chief Constable is held to account for any findings and recommendations that it makes.

It is essential that we understand how this happened, and that lessons are leant.

This is separate to the response of Officers, Staff and Specials on the ground, who did the best they could, in the circumstances they were presented with, to bring the disruption to an end as soon as they did.

07/09/2026

Following the Government’s decision to pause and review reform to local councils, they must now do the same for policing.

The Home Secretary has made proposals in the police reform white paper which have already been delayed, with the planned legislation not due to come to the House of Commons for some time, possibly not until 2027.

The proposals for police force mergers do not have the support of the public. The complicated changes needed to create a National Police Service need more time and must not be rushed. And they need to get the governance right.

The Government has shown that it is prepared to pause and review.

They should pause police reform too so that the impact on the public, the victims we serve and our officers, staff and volunteers can be properly considered.

https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/governance-and-structure/breaking-ministers-to-review-lgr-decisions-07-09-2026/

06/09/2026

I have remained in close contact with the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable about the protest that took place in Dover yesterday.

To the residents and businesses of Dover, I am sorry that you have again been subject to disruption.

Whilst I do respect the right to peaceful protest, I do condemn the intimidating tactics used by those gathered.

Kent Police is debriefing Saturday’s incident and I will closely monitor this.

I am grateful to the Officers and Staff on the ground who responded well and worked hard to restore the flow of traffic as quickly as they could and bringing the protest to a conclusion.

03/09/2026

I have written to secondary schools across Kent to advertise a new national procurement framework, which is providing access to lockable mobile phone pouches, designed to support phone free learning environments, at a lower cost.

The framework has been developed by BlueLight Commercial, a company owned by Police and Crime Commissioners, and provides schools with a compliant route to purchase lockable mobile phone pouches, unlocking bases and associated support services from eight approved suppliers. The framework itself is free to access and can be used through either a direct award or mini competition procurement process.

More info 👇

https://www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/news-menu/press-releases/2026/lower-cost-mobile-phone-pouch-purchasing-available-to-schools

18/08/2026

Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, has co-signed a letter to the new Justice Secretary, Rt Hon Alex Norris MP, calling for more support for victims affected by the Government’s reforms to sentencing and early release.

Mr Scott shares the portfolio for Victims at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners with the Labour PCC for Avon and Somerset, Clare Moody, with whom the letter was co-signed.

The letter calls for better communication with victims, improved links with local victim support services, assurances on safeguards and an input for restorative justice services.

Mr Scott said:

“Victims and witnesses should be at the heart of the justice system but are already experiencing significant waits for their cases to be heard in court. Their confidence in the system is being shaken further by the prospect that offenders either won’t go to prison or will be released much earlier. That is not right or fair.

“There needs to be urgent action to provide clarity and timely information for victims, and give them the assurance that proper safeguarding measures are in place to protect them. What has been suggested so far is not sufficient. I hope the Justice Secretary will heed the call of Deputy Mayors and PCCs and work with us as the local victim champions.”

Commenting on the reforms more widely, Mr Scott said

“The Government needs to listen to PCCs and Chief Constables, who are raising legitimate concerns about the prisoners who are being released early and change course. It is not right that the killers of PC Andrew Harper should ever have been considered for early release and the Government must do all they can to stop this.

“Their reforms are also placing a massive burden on policing. They will cost £480m for policing to manage, with no extra resources to mitigate, and could lead to an increase in crime nationally. When Parliament returns in September, we need to see a radical plan of action to address this.”

13/08/2026

In response to the Victim’s Commissioner’s report, “Forgotten victims: Barriers to justice following a road traffic collision”, the APCC’s Joint National Leads for Victims, Clare Moody and Matthew Scott, said:

“We welcome the Victims’ Commissioner’s report and echo her call for a victim-centred, trauma-informed approach to supporting victims of road traffic collisions. While we know many police officers and specialist support services are working hard to support victims, it is clear more needs to be done. No victim or grieving family should feel forgotten by the system that is supposed to support them.

“As local victims champions, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Deputy Mayors raise victims’ voices, advocate on their behalf to ensure their needs are prioritised and met by local criminal justice agencies, and commission specialist services to support them. We have raised the need for stronger accountability across statutory agencies so that every victim receives the information, communication and support to which they are entitled under the Victims’ Code.

“The APCC contributed to this report and is committed to further supporting the Victims’ Commissioner in her work to strengthen accountability and compliance with the Victims’ Code, and to improve victims’ journeys through the criminal justice system.”

Address

Maidstone

Website

https://matthewscottuk.substack.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Matthew Scott posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organisation to be the top-listed government service in Maidstone?