A KEEP Our Streets Safe campaign to retain community beat officers in Broadstairs town cenhtre is underway after the transfer of one of the two town centre bobbies.

The Mayor, Cllr Jeffrey Kirkpatrick, and the chamber of commerce are behind the drive to bring policing “back to an acceptable and safe level for the residents and visitors”.

The mayor’s comments came after a German boy was beaten and punched in the head in an unprovoked gang attack in the town centre on Saturday night, hours after arriving on a student visit.

Cllr Kirkpatrick said: “This is just the sort of needless violence that we want to avoid. I fear for the safety of the area and there is a huge groundswell of dismay and anger at the decision by Thanet police to reduce cover, leaving us with one beat officer and a special constable."

The mayor has met with police area commander Supt Penny Martin and he said: “I understand her need to reorganise manpower and that other police cover is available. However, it is fundamentally wrong to reduce community beat cover by 50 per cent in a busy area like Broadstairs.

“The two officers made great inroads into crime and fear of violence. They were so effective and played a vital community role.

“I have told Supt Martin that we will press for the reinstatement of more cover and that she can expect a hard time from the people of Broadstairs and St Peter’s.”

So high are feelings in the town that a petition calling for improved policing placed in just three stores for a few days by worried shop staff gathered more than 1,600 signatures.

Cllr Kirkpatrick said: “Posters are up around the town, the chamber of commerce and the mayoralty are spearheading the campaign.

“Trouble has reduced since the beat bobbies came on the scene - there is genuine alarm that yobbish behaviour, crime and attacks on foreign students will flare up badly again. Supt Martin said she will review her decision if necessary. I think she made a mistake in the first place.”

Cllr Kirkpatrick said the town was indebted to the work done by PC David Symes, the policeman who was removed from the "magnificent community officer team" in the Broadstairs.

Supt Martin said: “Crime and incident levels in Broadstairs have reduced greatly in the last five years and I have to assess where manpower can be most effective. All staffing levels are monitored constantly so that we can react to areas of need efficiently and professionally.”