PC Lewis Serves Up Lemonade and Answers on the High Street
PC Lewis Bennett swapped his uniform for a lemonade stand on Folkestone’s Old High Street. On Sunday, 12 September 2021, he joined a unique project that mixed refreshing drinks with candid chats about crime and community life.
The LemonAID Response Unit: Breaking Barriers with a Drink
The stand, cleverly named the ‘LemonAID Response Unit’ by artist Victoria Melody, was part of Creative Folkestone’s 1 event. Its aim? To smash down walls between police and the public, encouraging face-to-face conversations over a cold lemonade.
From Football to Policing Laws: PC Bennett Answers It All
PC Bennett greeted curious locals of all ages, quenching their thirst and tackling their questions head-on. He’s no stranger to policing, but this chilled gig gave him fresh insight into the community.
“The stand was busy with people asking questions from start to finish. I served plenty of lemonade and answered lots of questions,” said PC Bennett.
“Some were light-hearted — like how many bad guys I’ve caught, how fast police cars go, and my favourite football team. Others were more serious, asking about policing laws and handling volatile situations.”
“It was a great way to meet lots of people and reminded me how vital community engagement really is.”
Artist’s Bold Vision: Changing Minds One Lemonade at a Time
Victoria Melody described the project as a “simple idea with radical intentions.”
“The LemonAID Response Unit breaks stereotypes and builds trust between police, young people, and the community. It’s fun but has the power to change how people think,” she said.
Cheers to that!
