New area commander for East Kent

Kent Police’s Ch Supt John Molloy will take up the role of area commander in east Kent on 3 March. He will replace Ch Supt Peter West, who is leaving to oversee operations at the force control centre at headquarters.

With 22 years of service, Ch Supt Molloy has undertaken a wide range of uniform and non-uniform roles in his career. Having transferred from another police force two years ago, Ch Supt Molloy has spent his first two years with Kent Police working in the partnership and crime reduction department at headquarters. He is already known to many of the local partners and is keen to continue to build those relationships in addressing key community issues.

Ch Supt John Molloy says: “This is a beautiful part of the county and I am looking forward to building on the good work that officers have done not only in making Canterbury and Thanet a safe place to live and work but also in playing our part in developing a vibrant economy where businesses feel it is an attractive area for investment.”

Ch Supt John Molloy is married with two children and a keen sailor. He has been a member of a successful crew that has won the National Police Athletics Association’s championship for yacht racing three times.

Ch Supt Peter West has been area commander in East Kent since March 2006. He said: “It has been a pleasure leading a team of such highly motivated and committed staff. I will miss all the staff here in East Kent. I had worked in Canterbury before, but had never worked in Thanet and that has been particularly enjoyable. It took me back to my days as a sergeant in Folkestone where the links to the community are very close.”

Man charged with burglary

Sebastian Clew, 19, from Canterbury, was charged on 13 February with burglary. He will appear at Canterbury magistrates on 25 February. On 27 January at midnight, a laptop worth £1,000 was stolen from an address in Monastery Street, Canterbury.