KentOnline

This week on the KM Community podcast, community reporter Aleeza Shah speaks with Alex McGovern from Kent Youth County Council about how knife crime is affecting the youth of today.
Kent has seen one of the highest spikes in knife crime across the country and many feel the government is not doing enough to stop the trend. 
Last year saw a 25% increase in recorded incidents of violent crime in Kent and Medway. More than 870 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument were reported compared to 717 in 2017.
There has also been a spike in gangs from London grooming children in Kent to take part in drug-related crimes. These County Lines gang-related crimes are the most prevalent in Medway, Dover, Canterbury and Thanet. 
Have you got a story you think should be told? KM Community reporters want to hear from you! Get in touch by using #KMCommunity on social media or email news@thekmgroup.co.uk

Thousands of us will be heading to the beach this weekend as temperatures across Kent are expected to soar.
Forecasters say it could go above 30 degrees here tomorrow, and a level two heatwave warning’s in force across the county.

Thousands of us will be heading to the beach this weekend as temperatures across Kent are expected to soar.
Forecasters say it could go above 30 degrees here tomorrow, and a level two heatwave warning’s in force across the county.

A company offering families the chance to meet a unicorn is under fire after a number of events were cancelled at the last minute.
Kate Howell from Maidstone took her two young daughters to a park in Reading after seeing an advert in the Primary Times magazine which goes out to children at schools across the country.
She’s since been given a refund, but wants to stop it from happening to any other parents.
www.kentonline.co.uk 

Campaigners from Kent have joined thousands of people for a mass lobby at Westminster over climate change.
WWF say it’s the greatest environmental crisis the world has ever faced and wildlife populations have plummeted by 60 percent over the past 40 years.
They’re hoping today’s ‘The Time is Now’ event will be the biggest of it’s kind as they call on MPs to take action.
www.Kentonline.co.uk 

A Kent MP has criticised the use of lie detector tests in reality TV programmes, following the death of a guest who appeared on the Jeremy Kyle Show.Folkestone and Hythe’s Damian Collins heads up the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which has been hearing evidence from ITV bosses in Parliament.The Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled last month and the host himself declined an invitation to give evidence in Parliament.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/

Veterans across the country are struggling with a harsh and confusing benefits system. But according to Kent’s Armed Forces NHS Community Director Kate Parkin, the key to improvement is through increasing awareness of the difficulties people face when they leave military service. 

There’s been another rise in the number of children being home schooled in Kent.At the moment more than 2,500 youngsters are being taught at home in the county – that’s twice as many as seven years ago, and up almost 13% on April 2018.A report by education bosses has described it as a ‘worrying trend’, and say it might be down to ‘strained relationships’ between parents and schools.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/

There are fresh calls for a serial killer, who’s Britain’s longest serving prisoner, to be kept behind bars.
Patrick Mackay who used to live in the Gravesend and Dartford areas, was jailed in 1975 after being convicted of three manslaughters on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Two other cases were put on file – and he was linked to another six deaths – including that of cafe owner Ivy Davies who was murdered in Essex.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/

A dysfunctional housing market and inadequate welfare regime is being blamed for a dramatic rise in homelessness.A report, which has taken a year to put together, says rough sleeping is just the tip of the iceberg and much more needs to be done to tackle the issue.It’s calling for sustainable and affordable housing along with more mental health support and addiction services.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/