A NEW police chief has vowed "it is business as usual" as preparations get under way for a change of control between two forces.

Gillian Ellis' appointment as the chief inspector for Sevenoaks is the first stage of policing boundary changes which will see control handed over from north Kent to the west Kent force.

The changeover will take up to 12 months.

It will affect policing in Swanley, Hextable, Horton Kirby and New Ash Green.

Swanley station will become a 24-hour response station once the transfer takes place.

Currently, most officers attending incidents in the area are sent out from the Dartford borough.

The change is part of Kent police's 2015 Project, which will also see west Kent take responsibility for Tonbridge, Marling and Tunbridge Wells.

The decision was taken to make the changes to bring the areas in line with the rest of Sevenoaks borough, which is already policed by west Kent.

Chief Insp Ellis promises services will not be disrupted and says policing levels will remain the same or even increase following the swap.

Before the takeover takes place Chief Insp Ellis, now permanently based at Swanley police station, London Road, has to consider the policing issues of the area, calculate budgets, arrange transport levels and implement new computer procedures.

Chief Insp Ellis, who joined the force as a PC in 1988, said: "Until west Kent is totally ready to take over the reigns, it will be business as usual, whether this takes six months or a year.

"We will continue with a citizen-focused approach to policing which is all about each community having a named officer residents can recognise and contact."

Kent police will pay for the reorganisation but are currently unable to say what the cost will be.

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