Catch up on all the latest news from across the county with Oliver Leader de Saxe.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:30Good evening and welcome to Kentonite, live here on KMTV. I'm Oliver, leader of the Saks
00:37and here are your top stories on Friday the 24th of February.
00:41Marching for peace. Solidarity on the streets of Canterbury on third anniversary of Ukraine
00:48war.
00:49Today more than ever we have to stay united. We have to stay for justice in Ukraine and
00:55for justice in the world.
00:57Snuffing out snuffs, Kent trading standards sees thousands of unregulated nicotine pouches.
01:05And we're slowly seeing these types of products, nicotine pouches, becoming I suppose more
01:10frequently seen on the high street.
01:12And feel the magic as Kent's eight year old wows the judges on Britain's Got Talent.
01:16It's going to be quite unusual. I don't think you've seen this before.
01:27Well today marks three years since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. And since then Canterbury
01:35and the surrounding towns have homed and hosted Ukrainian families and refugees fleeing from
01:42the conflict.
01:43On the anniversary Canterbury Free Ukraine organised a yearly solidarity walk and public
01:49speaking event to remind the UK and the world that the war is still happening.
01:54Well Finn McDermott went down to Canterbury to find out more.
02:00It's been three years since the start of the war in Ukraine and the latest development
02:03is talks of a peace deal being on the table.
02:06Here in Canterbury the war might seem far away but for Ukrainians living here they say
02:10it's still far from over with today being an especially important date.
02:16Well today I think for all Ukrainians it's a sad day but a very sad day because all the
02:23memories from the first day come very vivid. But I'm happy to see many people and British
02:32people and Ukrainians coming together to show solidarity and to show that we want justice
02:40for all.
02:42The event has become a yearly one and the implications of its third time being held
02:46are obvious that war is still occurring. Last year the focus and message of the event was
02:52not to forget the war in Europe but this time a different message is being given.
02:57Justice for Ukraine, justice for the world. That's the message ahead of the public walk
03:01and talk that's meant to mark and honour three years since the start of the Ukraine war.
03:07Soon these streets will be bathed yellow and blue ahead of Canterbury Free Ukraine's public
03:11march to demonstrate, mark and honour three years since the beginning of the Ukraine war.
03:17Like last year a public march will be held, this time starting where the former ended
03:21at the Marlow Theatre. Before the walk an information centre was held on the high street
03:27showing images of the effects of the war and condemning the actions of Russia. Canterbury
03:31Free Ukraine are a charity who work to support Ukrainian families coming to the Canterbury
03:35area after escaping the war.
03:39More than ever we have to stay united, we have to stay for justice in Ukraine and for
03:45justice in the world and with recent development Ukraine becomes, the Ukrainian army becomes
03:52not only the shield for our own nation but also for all nations in Europe and we are
04:00very thankful to support that we receive from all the people here in Canterbury, in the
04:06UK and from other European nations.
04:09As political developments unfold no one knows the future of the war in Ukraine but for those
04:14who have lived through it they say the march is necessary for keeping the community together
04:19and marking the date of yet another year in the Ukraine war.
04:23Finn McDermid for KMTV in Canterbury.
04:27Well this walk of solidarity comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prepares to head
04:32to Washington to meet President Trump over negotiations to end the war with concerns
04:38that Ukraine has become sidelined in talks about its own future or to discuss more
04:44about this we caught up with Denis you heard in that piece there on our morning show to
04:49find out what the implications are for the Ukrainian community here in Kent.
04:54It is a really sad day today for all Ukrainians and indeed three years ago many Ukrainians
05:04came to Kent to find their refuge and over these three years well they found a new home
05:12a new place for themselves but that was a difficult experience for most of them asking
05:18for help asking for help with placement to find the ways around and that's how the
05:26Canterbury for Ukraine started.
05:29Yes you see the footage from those days.
05:32So initially what our volunteers did we helped to connect those who were looking for a safe
05:39place to stay with hosts from Canterbury area. We helped them with placement we helped them
05:47with adjustments both Ukrainians and their hosts. The activity number one was really
05:54to help people settled.
05:56There's been lots of developments over the last week with peace talks as well starting
06:01of course between the US and Russia lots of tension surrounding those subjects to lots
06:07of front pages. Has that pressure been felt by the community here too?
06:16It's a very difficult feeling when one of our strongest allies now it seems to be pulling
06:24off. But that's also a reminder that we Ukrainians and our European friends have to rely on ourselves.
06:32So for us it was a wakening call that we really have to regroup reorganise ourselves and keep
06:39pushing keep fighting for our people for our land for our independence. But it was really
06:46a sad feeling.
06:48And of course in the papers today we're hearing President Zelensky saying that he's happy
06:53happy but he is willing to give up his role as president if it means peace talks can continue.
06:59What's your kind of immediate reaction to that? Obviously President Zelensky has been
07:03a major voice throughout this this war.
07:08I think Ukrainians are very lucky with our leader. We are proud of our leader and we
07:16have majority absolute majority of Ukrainians supporting President Zelensky. I think we
07:22are united behind him and we don't have any political pressure.
07:30Political tension inside Ukraine. I think we all recognise that no elections are possible
07:36during the war just physically it is not possible and socially it is accepted that we have to
07:43first win this war to have peace on our land and then we'll have the next presidential
07:49election. But I just would like to reiterate Zelensky is hugely popular among Ukrainians
07:57and we are proud of him.
08:00Now the County Wildlife Trust is urging people to stop removing ivy from trees on their sites
08:06after some of it was chopped down at East Baleen Nature Reserve. Conservationists warn
08:11it's vital for ecosystems here in the county. But the plea has caused quite the controversy
08:16with more than 800 comments on social media. So does the plant have an unfair reputation?
08:23To unpack this we spoke to ivy expert Dr Ian Rickards.
08:28It's had a bit of a bad reputation. I think it's seen as a plant that can smother and
08:35kill your trees and so it needs to be got rid of. But that isn't the case at all. The
08:40way it grows it's not a parasite. It's not growing into the tree. It's just climbing
08:45over. It's using like a climbing frame. The ivy grows up the tree just sort of uses its
08:52tendrils to hold on and then it gets its energy, same as the tree does, from the light
08:57from the ground and not from the tree itself. It doesn't have, it has very little impact
09:01on the tree itself at all. But what we need to do is highlight how important ivy is for
09:06wildlife. Our gardens are becoming more and more sterile, you know, astroturf and concreting
09:13and creating sort of hard surfaces everywhere. Wherever we can get any opportunities for,
09:19you know, for things to grow that should be there, let's take them. If you don't need
09:23to get rid of the ivy, please leave it alone.
09:26Now in sport and Gillians wait for a win under manager John Coleman continues and there's
09:32plenty of other sporting headlines including how Maidstone United are still on their winless
09:38streak. All that and more in this week's football round up from Bartholomew Hall.
09:44We start at the Gallagher where Maidstone were looking to end a four game winless run
09:47in the National League South against visitors Barth. After a lacklustre first half, Reece
09:51Greenidge broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, heading home unchallenged from a corner.
10:02Just four minutes later though, Aaron Blair pounced on a defensive error and smashed his
10:05shot into the roof of the net for his first goal of the year.
10:12Charlie Seaman eventually looked to wrap up the win in stoppage time, weaving past defenders
10:16before firing past the visiting keeper to steal a much needed three points.
10:24The Stones finished the weekend sixth and three points safe in the playoff positions.
10:29Elsewhere in the National League South, Tunbridge Angels found a win away from home with three
10:33goals scored in the final 15 minutes against Enfield. Meanwhile for Ebbsfleet at the bottom
10:38of the national table, it was another loss, marking a whole calendar year without a win
10:42on the road.
10:43In League Two, Gillingham's long wait for a win goes on, following a goalless draw at
10:47bottom side Carlisle United. Elliot Nevitt hit the underside of the crossbar for Gillingham
10:51and also had a big penalty appeal turned down after the break, but it's now 12 games without
10:56a win.
10:57We've got to focus on what we can do, but we're having absolutely zero luck. Well we
11:02are, we're having lots of luck, bad luck. But it'll get there, we keep on working hard.
11:08You can see the spirit in the camp, you can see even the subs, they're all rallying around
11:11each other. We go against a tough game Tuesday, but hopefully we'll get that win that's eluded
11:18us for so long.
11:20In the Intermediate Premier, Dartford lost the top spot after seeing their 21-match unbeaten
11:24run ended at Cheshunt. For a Wanderers mood, four points clear of Folkestone in ninth place
11:29after a 3-2 victory at Flamingo Park, whilst Dover and Chatham's derby was postponed due
11:34to a waterlogged pitch at the Crabble.
11:37For all your sporting news, you head to Kent online, as well as catching up on Invictus
11:43Sport, a new episode out today on our website. We'll be back after the break with even more
11:49news made just for Kent.
15:07Next, tonight. Kent training standards have stopped 4,000 packs of nicotine pouches, also
15:19known as snus, from being distributed and sold, with worries it could be the start of
15:24a wider issue. The small sachets are put under the top lip to be 15 times the strength of
15:31a cigarette, with concerns that they remain largely unregulated and can legally be bought
15:37by children. Our reporter Phil Dermott went to the Kent training standards secret storage
15:42location to find out more.
15:46As cigarettes become less and less popular with younger people, vapes and e-cigarettes
15:50have become the new norm. But now local authorities worry that a third type of nicotine product
15:55could be on the rise, with dangerous implications. Nicotine pouches, also known as snus.
16:00How do you know what you're consuming is safe? Well, that's where the Kent County Council's
16:05trading standards and ports team come in. It's their job to stop any products that people
16:09want to sell in the UK if they think they're unsafe. And that includes 66,000 of these
16:15nicotine pouches. Now, these pouches were stopped because they have Spanish labelling
16:19on them, meaning the team just didn't know if they were safe or not.
16:22I visited Kent trading standards warehouse at a secret location near Dover. They told
16:28me they couldn't discuss the exact nature of who had sent it or where it had come from,
16:32because there was an ongoing inquiry. But they did say they worked with intelligence
16:36given to them by the border force and had fully detained the seven pallets in their
16:40storage. And unlike vapes, there's no law that regulates the amount of nicotine in the
16:44pouches or who can buy them.
16:46On a different shipment, the standards team found higher concentrations of nicotine in
16:50the pouches, which was concerning. This detained shipment of 66,000 is especially rare and
16:56especially large, and they say could show a shifting trend towards more people consuming
17:01them.
17:02If you put it in context, so we've got a team who go out dealing with illegal vapes,
17:07and that team over the last 10 to 12 months have seized about 4,000. So for the ports
17:12team to take 66,000 out of circulation is really, really effective and it's really good.
17:18And we're slowly seeing these types of products, nicotine pouches, becoming, I suppose, more
17:24frequently seen on the high street. So it's a new product, but it's gathering momentum.
17:30There was also an issue with the packaging, which normally has Braille, that gives safety
17:33warnings to those with visual impairments. And unlike vapes, there's no law that regulates
17:37the amount of nicotine in the pouches or who can buy them, meaning some are worried about
17:42the knock-on effect, especially if dangerous ones made it into the country.
17:46They contain a powdery material which is laced with nicotine, but also has flavorings. And
17:53those flavorings are basically very attractive, guess what, to young people. And the packaging
17:58of it is also made that it's actually attractive and looks really cool. And that actually tries
18:04to aim it and gear for younger audiences. And it's for profit. From their side, it is
18:09all about money. From the public health side, it's all about risk.
18:14As for the 66,000 vapes, they'll likely be destroyed. There is the possibility they could
18:18be reworked, but according to the trading standards team, the effort would be outweighed
18:22by the potential dangers for the public.
18:25Fascinating report there. And you can keep up to date with all your latest stories from
18:31across Kent by logging onto our website, kmtv.co.uk. There you'll find all our stories, including
18:38this one, about antisocial behaviour on the streets of Clifdenville.
18:43Fly-tipping, drug use and intimidation. These are just some of the behaviors worrying residents
18:49in Moorgate. Many say the problem is getting worse, and not enough is being done to stop it.
18:55A business owner here in Northdown Road started a petition to sort out the antisocial behaviour,
19:01and it's already surpassed its initial goal of 1,000 signatures. They hope that this is
19:06going to be enough to grab the council's attention and enough to make change.
19:10Walking along Northdown Road, the signs of antisocial behaviour are hard to miss. From
19:15dumped rubbish to vandalised shopfronts, locals told me they're worried about the future
19:19of their high street.
19:21It feels dirty when you see the fly-tipping. And as I say, you know, you can't feel threatened
19:25by the people who've had too much to drink.
19:29There's quite a few customers who sort of, if they're hovering outside our shop, they
19:34don't, they walk off. And then they might come back in five minutes. Because they're
19:39sitting down there with blankets and smoking and dealing, unfortunately.
19:46People don't want to come to the high street. You know, they're scared. A lot of older people
19:51come in and say they're actually frightened to come out on the streets. And they're getting
19:54accosted going into the shops, asking for money. A small nugget out of my car, straight
19:59away, have you got some money?
20:00But while locals say antisocial behaviour has increased in recent months, Kent Police
20:05say reports have actually decreased over the past two years. Kent Police say they have
20:10already issued a man with a community protection notice in the area to prohibit harassing,
20:15being drunk in public and other antisocial behaviour, with plans to issue more if necessary.
20:21These orders, they say, are part of a wider effort to address the mental health, drug
20:25misuse and housing issues.
20:28In regard to Thanet District Council, they say they're working closely with the police
20:32to tackle these issues, while encouraging those on the street into safe accommodation.
20:37Local councillor Barry Manners believes stronger action is needed.
20:41These are small businesses on wafer-thin margins. They're not multinational companies. These
20:46are people that have a handful of employees. They're part of a local community and they
20:53deserve our support and protection. And at the moment, they're being failed by the council
20:58and they're being failed by the police.
21:00While authorities say steps are being taken to tackle antisocial behaviour, some residents
21:05and local councillors feel more needs to be done. With concerns about safety, policing
21:10and community support still present, the challenge is now rebuilding trust and addressing
21:15the root causes.
21:16Kristen Hawthorne, KMTV, Moorgate.
21:23Now, a Baton tour in the UK to raise awareness about mental health is set to come to Kent
21:28and Medway later this year. The Baton of Hope organise this tour as the biggest suicide
21:33awareness and prevention initiative in the country, with the hopes that bringing the
21:37message across the county could save lives. Daisy Page joined me earlier to tell me more
21:43about the event.
21:45Well, Daisy joins me in the studio now. Daisy, I have to ask, what is the Baton of Hope?
21:50Because it seems to be travelling all across the UK, including Kent and Medway.
21:54Yeah, so the Baton of Hope is a suicide prevention and awareness charity which had its first
21:59tour in 2023. And as you can see, the tour is coming back in 2025. In 2023, it was the
22:06UK's largest ever suicide prevention initiative. Through the country, they carried a Baton
22:12which is very similar to the Olympic torch. And it's believed to be the first physical
22:17symbol of mental health. So it allows people to hold it and feel it and really carry that
22:23through with them when they're going through that journey. The Baton's design is directional
22:28and I found it really interesting. It said that it's pointing upwards from the foot to
22:32the top of the Baton to represent a journey of hope. I spoke with Alice from the Baton
22:36of Hope who told us a bit more about the first tour as she was on the founding committee
22:41and a little bit of what we can expect for this tour coming up in 2025 as well.
22:46In 2023, they held their first UK tour where over 900 Baton bearers carried the Baton from
22:53city to city across 12 days. I was actually on the organising committee for that event
22:59and it was amazing. This year, they're going to be visiting 20 places across the UK,
23:06including Kent and Medway on the 22nd of September, which is going to be a huge day for us
23:13in the county and just a really good chance to shine a light on the incredible initiatives
23:18that our councils, our local charities and support services are working on and just show
23:23people that they're not alone. Well, Daisy, you see it's re-travelling up and down the UK
23:29from London to Northern Ireland to here in Kent and Medway. Where is it going and what can you do
23:35to be involved in this initiative? Yeah, well, Alice herself worked really hard alongside Kent
23:40County Council to bring it here in Kent and Medway. On the 22nd of September, she told me
23:45a little bit more information that will be starting here in Medway, going through to Maidstone,
23:50then going to Canterbury and finishing off in Margate for the day. And it'll be
23:53finishing in Dreamland where they'll have singers, poets and unveiling of art too. It's hoped that
24:01there'll be 100 baton bearers just in Kent and Medway to carry it through the day and take it
24:05through the county. Kent and Medway has actually had the most applications so far, but there is
24:10still time to apply as applications have been extended to the 31st of March. Daisy Page there,
24:16and if you've been affected by anything in that segment, you can contact the 24-hour-a-day
24:22Samaritans Helpline on 116 123. That's 116 123. Now here's the weather.
24:36Starting off this evening with temperatures of eight degrees across most of the county,
24:40seven down in Ashford and Royal Tunbridge Wells. Staying around that into tomorrow morning,
24:46cloud and sunshine across the county, highs of nine in Maidstone, reaching 11 into the afternoon.
24:52Still some cold spots down towards Dover, that cloud and sun still consisting through and for
24:58the rest of the week. Rainy on Wednesday, some sun and cloud on Tuesday, clear skies by Friday,
25:04but cooler temperatures as well.
25:14And finally, do you believe in magic? That's what Britain's Got Talent judges
25:19had to ask themselves after a magician from Kent to the stage at only eight years old.
25:26Teddy Magic wowed the likes of Simon Cowell and KSI with a champagne-based card trick
25:31that left the panel speechless and the audience mesmerized. Let's take a quick look.
25:37How are you doing? I'm all right, thank you. Um, what's your name? My name is Teddy. I'm from Kent.
25:43Kent. Oh, okay. What is your age? I'm eight.
26:03Incredible stuff there. We wish Teddy the best of luck as he heads to the next stage
26:07of the competition. Well, that's everything you've been watching on Kent Tonight, live here on KMTV.
26:13There's more news made just for Kent throughout the evening. Don't forget, you can always keep
26:17up to date with the latest news across your county by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk,
26:23and also find us on your social timelines, Facebook, TikTok, and of course, Instagram.
26:30And if you have a story you think we should be covering as well, then please do get in touch.
26:34We've got a bunch of special programs in Victor Sport, a brand new episode on our website now.
26:39If you want to catch up with your news tomorrow morning,
26:41tune into The Breakfast Show, The Kent Morning Show, at 7am. Goodbye.