Kent Police event charging policy established

From 1 April 2008, Kent Police will charge for the majority of events, which require police presence, in line with guidelines set out by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

The policy will be brought in to ensure there is consistency across the country in the process of calculating the cost of policing an event. However, there will be no charge for events requiring 24 hours or less of police time (including planning, administration and set-up time) or statutory events such as ceremonial parades, Remembrance Day parades and constitutional events.

Charitable events, along with community events, which require police to be present, will be charged at half the full cost. Commercial, profit-making events will be charged full costs.

In all cases, Kent Police's six Area Commanders will have the authority to abate some or all of the costs involved. The decision to abate costs will be subject to guidelines within the event charging policy and each event will be calculated individually and uniquely.

The policing area that covers the location in which events will take place will calculate the cost.

Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Leppard said:

"This policy is not something that the police or ACPO put into place to make money, it came about as a result of the trade industry and was based on having a consistent and fair approach to event charging across all UK forces. Any profit that is made will be ploughed back into local policing.

"Kent Police is, in fact, one of the last forces to bring the charges in, as we have taken the time to make sure we have resources and processes in place to deal with the events themselves, and related issues, thoroughly and fairly."

Kent Police has written to event organisers within the county to invite them to briefings about the new event charging policy and to answer any questions they may have.

One of those briefings took place on Tuesday 11 September at Kent Police College and another is scheduled for 9 October 2007.