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Attempts to crack down on antisocial behaviour in parks are leading more local authorities across the UK to deploy dedicated police, but green-space experts are divided on the benefits.
The latest deployment is in Maidstone, where the need to tackle problems of anti-social behaviour and drug use has led to the introduction of police in the borough's parks this summer.
Five dedicated staff have been employed to monitor parks in four different areas of Maidstone as part of the scheme, called Operation Othello.
Sergeant Ian Jones, who is in charge of the operation, said: "The scheme will send an important message of high-visibility policing to both those who use the...