There will be an increased Cheshire Police presence in Kingston this summer as the borough is included among 30 other London locations named by the Metropolitan Police as the most likely to attract anti-social behaviour (ASB), theft and street crime.

This is part of 'The Safer Streets Summer Initiative,' involving more patrols around in over 500 town centres and high streets, with police working with businesses to identify issues.

The scheme has been devised by the Home Office. Police forces across the country will be implementing it until Tuesday 30 September.

The summer initiative will also support young people in Kingston, with extra activities funded through seized criminal money.

The aim is to reduce and prevent the kind of anti-social behaviour and retail crime over the summer months to restore faith in community policing.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: "High streets and town centres are the very heart of our communities. Residents and businesses have the right to feel safe in their towns.

But the last government left a surge in shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour which has left too many town centres feeling abandoned. 

"It's time to turn this round, that's why I have called on police forces and councils alike to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished."

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