Charity police panto to return to the stage

The first Police Panto was in 1999

A police pantomime is returning to Kent to help raise money for three local charities.

The annual Police Panto is preparing for its 26th show, where the group will be performing Ali Baba And The Four-and-a-Half Thieves at St Lawrence College in Ramsgate from Thursday to Saturday.

The group is raising money for the county's Prostate Cancer Support Association, Thanet Community First Responders and mental health group STAK.life.

Alan Watson, who is a special chief inspector and secretary for the show, said: "I think its really important that we are able to show the human side of policing or who we are and what we are about."

Mr Watson said the group, which is made up of active or retired officers along with friends of the force, tries to add a "policey element" to the show every year.

"This is a good way of having a little bit of positivity to help with mental health," he added.

The inspector explained that the active members of the force would take annual leave for the performances and there would not be any expense to Kent Police.

Since its first show in 1999, the group says it has raised more than £225,000 for charity.

Mr Watson told BBC Radio Kent: "It makes us feel really, really proud of what we're doing.

"It's a bonus for them, and it's a bonus for us".