A member of the transgender community has said more needs to be done to change attitudes towards the LGBTQ community.
Fiona Johnson, 59, represents Kent for the Beaumont Society, and helps to provide support to members of the transgender community across the county.
Our top story today is about the probation service which manages the most dangerous offenders in Kent – as a report says it requires improvement.
Inspectors have found, on average, officers were managing more than 42 cases each in the county and surrounding region – the highest in the country.
More than half of staff – who manage more than 16,000 offenders – said they felt their work-load was ‘unmanageable’.
As children in Kent return to the classroom after the summer break, it’s been revealed two thirds of parents are worried their kids are spending too much time online.Internet Matters says mums and dads are also concerned about the impact it’s having on their sleep, homework and time spent with family.Also in today’s episode, a community garden is helping to tackle anti-social behaviour and we hear why a crazy golf course at Rochester Cathedral has been such a success.
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A sculpture made out of 100,000 surrendered and confiscated knives is on display at Rochester Cathedral from today.The ‘Knife Angel’ has been described as a national monument against violence and aggression, and it’s hoped it’ll start a conversation about knife crime.Also in today’s episode, leaked government documents are warning drivers could have to wait two days at the port of Dover after a no-deal Brexit, and almost a third of doctors hired to work in Kent hospitals last year came from developing countries were recruitment is banned.
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As Boris Johnson promises to step up talks with the EU to try and get a new Brexit deal, a charity’s warning the migrant crisis could get worse after the UK leave the EU.More than 1,000 people have attempted the dangerous journey across the Channel from France to Kent so far this year.Also in today’s episode, a Medway teenager has spoken out about being sexually assaulted, a beauty queen from Maidstone says pageants have helped build her confidence, and Gillingham are hoping for their first win of the season when they welcome Bolton to Priestfield this weekend.
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Sex education in schools has been a hotly contested issue over the past few years. The UK government has decided that relationships and sex education would become compulsory in all schools in England from 2020.
The current guidelines have not changed since 2000, and don’t take into account a fast-changing world which includes issues such as cyber-bullying, LGBTQ+ issues and consent.
What does sex education need to look like in schools today? To discuss this we were joined by Anna McGovern who is 18 years old and chair of the Medway Youth Council. Anna is bravely making the issues of consent and sexual violence a person campaign focus, after suffering from sexual violence herself in the past.
There’s growing anger today over Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament in the run up to the Brexit deadline.The Prime Minister insisted it’s so he can set out his new programme for the government, and denies it’s to block attempts to halt a no-deal departure.Also in today’s episode, researchers at the University of Kent say psychological treatment for sexual and violent offenders does work, a woman who used to sleep rough in Dover tells us why she’s cycling to Glasgow and back, and we find out how the weather this summer has improved the quality of Kent’s gin.
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Police are reassuring the public that Maidstone town centre is a safe place to be, after the cousin of S Club star Bradley McIntosh was killed during a fight.21 year-old Andre Bent died after being stabbed in the chest in the High Street in the early hours of Sunday.Also in today’s podcast, a man with MS is hoping to dance at his wedding after trialling robotic technology at a Kent hospital and we find out how young people could get the chance to become the next big film-maker.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/
Four men have appeared in court charged with violent disorder after a brawl in Maidstone during which a man died after being stabbed.
Also today, around 20 suspected migrants are at a Home Office facility in Dover after being caught trying to cross the Channel in three small boats and there’s still confusion over what’s happened to a Banksy Brexit mural in Dover.
The Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith says she will do her best to help reform hospital food in England.
She’s been brought in to help with a government review of meals, after six patients died due to a listeria outbreak.
A 38 year-old mum from Ashford was among those who came down with the illness after she stayed at the William Harvey in May – but she managed to recover.
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