Kent Police Chief Constable defends his force's role in protecting women

Watch: ITV News Meridian's Tom Savvides reports.

Just one week after Wayne Couzens from Kent was jailed for life for the murder of Sarah Everard, the county's Chief Constable has defended his force's role in protecting women.

Alan Pughsley was speaking at the opening of a new museum in Faversham, looking at the history of Kent Police, where he also said all police officers would be heavily vetted before being employed.

Mr Pughsley is keen to show that his force is 'forward thinking', when it comes to women - saying that violence against women will not be tolerated.

Watch: Chief Constable, Alan Pughsley, lays out the measures Kent Police will take to rebuild public trust.

The Chief Constable says that Kent Police is reviewing a number of its procedures in regards to vetting, though he noted that the force is one of the best in the county in regards to vetting new officers.

However, Mr Pughsley said it was "right and proper" to look at these procedures, and as part of this there will be 13 public engagement meetings - equating to one in each policing area.

These will take place over the next three-to-four weeks, and will allow members of the public to ask questions about the measures the force is taking - which Mr Pughsley hopes will rebuild public confidence.

When asked if Kent Police could ensure that someone like Wayne Couzens doesn't slip through the net, Mr Pughsley said that public can be sure that his force would do everything it possibly could to make sure that a situation like that never happens.

He added that this was precisely the purpose of the vetting procedures Kent Police has.

Watch: Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, says Kent Police will evolve and move with the times.

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, said that he believes it is very important that policing has people from all backgrounds, as it helps build trust and confidence in a force.

He added that it is important that a force reflects the communities it serves, and that he want officers who join the force to be able to progress and make a difference.