Simon Finlay
Journalist at Iliffe Media
Northern Irish; Brentford FC, Glentoran and Maidstone United fan; views own etc; Main pic: Dermot O'Shea/Irish Times
Articles
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5 days ago |
kentonline.co.uk | Simon Finlay
What price democracy? All elections are expensive to stage with the bill inevitably picked up by the taxpayer, but in 2024’s poll for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, the turnout tumbled by more than 10% - meaning only one in five voters took part.
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1 week ago |
kentonline.co.uk | Simon Finlay
Depending on how one views these things, the first day in the chamber at Kent County Council for Reform UK’s newly-elected members was a day for triumph or triumphalism. The victors clapped, cheered, walloped the tabletops, and gave standing ovations to themselves, while the minuscule opposition contingent watched in bemused fascination or near disgust. Decorum, their faces seemed to say, was in rather short supply. But it was Reform’s time, after all, and who could deny them their gloating rights?
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1 week ago |
kentonline.co.uk | Simon Finlay
Shoplifting, fraud and sexual offences in the county have seen a sharp rise in the past year against a background of crime going down, according to new figures. Kent Police’s Chief Constable pledged there will “be no let up” in the drive to bring criminals to book. Tim Smith was giving his account on the force’s record in the past year – from April 2024 to March 2025 – to the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, this morning.
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1 week ago |
kentonline.co.uk | Simon Finlay
The growing problem of industrial-scale fly-tipping has been called “the new county lines” by Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner (KPCC). Official figures show the scourge of illegal dumping - much of it caused by organised gangs using tipper lorries and transits - has jumped year on year in the county. Now Matthew Scott has called a summit of interested parties, including fellow commissioners from Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Thames Valley, for June 3.
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2 weeks ago |
kentonline.co.uk | Simon Finlay
Reform UK presided over its first full Kent County Council (KCC) meeting today, with the new leader announcing a cut in councillor allowances and a special post for finding savings. On a morning dominated by frequent applause and table thumping by Reform’s members, KCC’s new leader Linden Kemkaran said she regarded her new role as a "privilege”.
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