Gay sex out of control

Dartford Council has been attempting to crack down on the lewd behaviour but says the problem is getting worse.

The heath is a known gay haunt and News Shopper reported back in 2002 how internet sites were directing them to the public space.

After numerous complaints from residents, six months ago the council started patrolling the area using a £6,000 van armed with two video cameras in a bid to catch the perpetrators in action.

One static camera is mounted onto the van's window screen and the other, which can move 360 degrees, has been attached to the roof. The van is driven to the heath once a week at varying times of the day to catch the men unawares.

Enforcement team manager Colin Newmarch said: "Eventually we want to catch someone in the act and then give the footage to the police to prosecute."

Currently the council has no powers to prosecute so Mr Newmarch wants to see more police patrols.

The council took part in a joint operation with the police in September.

Police officers spent a week patrolling the area on bikes to deter people from using the heath to have sex.

The council received no calls about the problem during September but for the past month it has been getting at least two a week at different times of the day.

Mr Newmarch added: "It has started to get out of control and we would like to see more police patrolling the area all year round."

Keen dog walker Pam Wood, of King Edward Avenue, Dartford, said: "There are lots of parents who go walking with their young children.

"They don't want to see things like this and have to explain it to their kids.

"These perverts don't even try to hide themselves in the bushes any more. They don't care, they just go at it in broad daylight."

Kent police spokesman Superintendent Chris Hogben said: "We are committed to policing Dartford.

"If our partner agencies make requests for the backing of a specific project, we will obviously look to support them."