Murdered PCSO Julia James’ family have hit out at the lack of uproar around her murder a week after her body was found.
Well-wishers were planning a vigil in the village close to where Julia, 53, was found dead with significant head injuries last Tuesday with her Jack Russell terrier unharmed by her side.
It comes less than two months after thousands took to the streets to take a stand after Sarah Everard’s body was found just 25 miles away in Great Chart, Kent.
Julia’s cousin Samantha Griffin posted on Facebook on Monday: ‘Where is the uproar about my beautiful cousin? Where is the huge outrage and pouring of despair? Where are the vigils and protests about her murder?
‘She was walking her dog, near her home. Thats all……and somebody must know something about what happened!
‘The person who did this, is walking our streets and your communities…so let’s stand up and make sure we swamp social media with her beautiful face in the hope that we can get information or the vile human who did this decides to hold their hands up. Our family, her friends and colleagues will not rest.’
Another relative Lois Ghost also said in a Facebook post: ‘Any information, however small could be so valuable – please continue to share this message and let’s get the monster that did this!’
The daughter of the murdered PCSO has urged supporters to light a candle on their doorsteps to remember her a week after she was killed.
And Julia’s uncle has urged the public to ‘think hard’ after police signalled they were no closer to finding her killer.
Sharing a Kent Police Facebook post about the murder alongside a photo of Julia on her wedding day, Michael Turnbull, 65, said: ‘Someone knows something but maybe doesn’t realise yet. Think hard.’
Mr Turnbull previously posted an emotional tribute to Julia on Facebook, in which he pleaded with members of the public to find her ‘monster’ killer.
It came as family of the murdered PCSO branded her killer a ‘vile human’ and ‘monster’ and her daughter called for a 7pm candlelight doorstep vigil to remember her.
Meanwhile, the head of the police force investigating the murder warned people in the area to ‘be very careful about going out alone’.
Kent Chief Constable Alan Pughsley’s comments, made a week after her death, will strike fear into families living near to the crimescene.
He told ITV News Meridian: ‘At the moment people have to be very conscious, very safe and very careful about going out alone. We will find out all we can to find out whoever did this and bring them to justice.
‘People have to be vigilant and have to be very careful.’
Julia’s daughter Bethan Coles has urged friends and villagers to light a candle instead so that police resources are not diverted away from the investigation.
Julia’s family have started a social media campaign to help keep awareness of the murder investigation in the public eye called #justiceforjulia.
Posting on Facebook her daughter Bethan said: ‘I’m so grateful for people sharing posts for #justiceforjulia
‘A number of people have asked about holding a vigil for Mum, and whilst I am so grateful for people wanting to remember her, I am very conscious that any gathering would need to be policed (if it was even allowed), I’ve discussed this with my family and we are in agreement that we would prefer all police resources to be concentrating on the investigation as there is so much work to be done.
‘I’ve been thinking perhaps we could ask those who wish to remember Mum to light a candle for her and leave it on their doorstep. This would be a beautiful nod to Mum in a way that doesn’t intrude on the Police investigation.
‘It marks a week since we lost Mum. At 7pm I will light a candle for her. #justiceforjulia’
Reclaim These Streets, a group set up in light of the murder of Sarah Everard, has also called for people to join the doorstep candle vigil in memory of the murdered PCSO.
In a statement posted on Twitter, it said: ‘A week ago, PSCO Julia James was murdered while out walking her dog.
‘Our thoughts are with her family, and we’re joining their call to light a candle on your doorstep tonight at 7pm to remember Julia and to shine a light on the issue of women’s safety.’
Police search teams are continuing to scour areas of woodland and fields close to the spot on a footpath on the edge of Ackholt Wood near Aylesham, Kent as the investigation continues.
It came as terrified families living near the path where Julia was killed have been advised to tell loved ones where they are going, and when they will be back, before leaving the house.
Locals are also being warned to keep mobile phones fully charged and with them at all times while also carefully planning walking routes, as police continue to hunt for the fugitive killer.
PCSO Julia James in Aylesham, Kent, whose body was discovered at Akholt Wood on Tuesday close to Snowdown
Julia James with her son, Patrick Davis, in June 2017, and her daughter Bethan Coles
Kent Police search officers continue their search of fields near the scene where PCSO Julia James was killed at Akholt Wood
Julia’s daughter Bethan Coles urged people to share the message to light a candle in memory of her mother tonight
A Kent Police notice posted on Facebook issued safety advice said they ‘understand if people are feeling uncertain at the moment about their safety’ after the murder.
And it urges locals to ‘remain cautious, vigilant and aware of your surroundings when you are out and about’.
A strong police presence remained in the nearby village of Aylesham, Kent today with PCSOs patrolling the streets.
They have also set up a special blue tent in the historic Market Square for worried residents to speak to officers about their concerns.
Dover Chief Inspector Dan Carter of Kent Police reassured residents ‘some of the very best detectives in the land’ are trying to catch the killer.
And although ‘no arrest has been made; we are not ruling anything out and are open to all possibilities’.
He said in a message to locals: ‘As your district commander, I am truly shocked and saddened by the death of PCSO Julia James.
‘Julia was well liked and highly respected by her colleagues and members of the public and we are all devastated by what has happened.
Julia James was walking her Jack Russell (pictured: Ms James and her dog) at the time of her death. The dog remained at the scene with her body, according to reports
This worrying update from the police told people to let others know where they were going before leaving their homes
Julia had finished her shift and headed out from home with her Jack Russell at around 3pm on Tuesday – her body, with her loyal dog sat next to it, was found at 4pm
‘She will be fondly remembered and missed by all – my thoughts go out to Julia’s family and friends and to each and every one of you within the community at this difficult time.
‘One of the biggest policing teams I have known, including some of the very best detectives in the land, are working tirelessly, leaving no stone unturned, to bring the offender to justice.
‘Working with our partners, the safety of our communities remains our priority and we urge anyone who has concerns to speak with our officers who are out and about in the local community, or contact us.’
An appeal for information says it is ‘vitally important’ anyone who was in the area on Monday or Tuesday and saw something suspicious, regular walkers of the route who noticed something out of place or drivers who passed with dashcam footage to come forward.
A ‘significant uniformed presence’ will be in the area and surrounding villages throughout the week.
It came after it emerged on Sunday local police were aware of a potential dognapping incident which took place weeks before Ms James’s death – with some now suggesting the killing could have been a ‘dog napping gone wrong’.
The warning, published in a parish magazine, urges dog walkers not to go out alone and even to carry an alarm or walking stick.
Police say the warning was sparked by a report of a suspicious man in a BMW approaching two dog walkers back in March.
The man, thought to be in his 60s, is said to have offered to ‘exchange’ the pair’s dog for cigarettes.
The warning reads: ‘Dog owners are warned to be vigilant when your dog is outside the house. Your dog cannot be safely left unsupervised even in your own garden!
‘On Tuesday, March 16, two dog-walkers were approached – in broad daylight – by a man in his 60s, from a black BMW in the lanes between Nonington and Aylesham, asking to exchange their pet dog for cigarettes and did they want to get rid of the dog anyway!
‘The advice is not to be alone, if possible. Extra precautions should be taken such as walking with a stick, keeping your dog close and on a lead, carrying an alarm and having your mobile phone fully charged.
‘Please can you report any such approaches to police, taking careful note of any car number plates and other identifying details.’
Police officers walk near Ackholt Wood on Sunday as they search for information surrounding the death
Scores of police officers conduct a search in a field next to Ackhold Wood on Sunday as the hunt for her killer continued
Police officers search bushes with poles close to the Ackhold Wood on Sunday
Ms James was walking her Jack Russell at the time of her death. The dog remained at the scene with her body, according to reports.
A source told the Sun that Ms James’s death could have been a dog napping gone ‘horribly wrong’.
The source said: ‘It’s possible the murderer was targeting her dog but it went horribly wrong.
‘The killer is not going to want to take a chipped dog knowing he’s just committed a murder.
‘He may have panicked and fled, leaving the dog.’
A Kent Police spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We are keeping an open mind in regards to all possible lines of enquiry.’
It comes after the Mail revealed how a female dog walker was confronted by a prowler in a van one mile away from where Ms James was killed.
The woman is said to have been accosted by a man in a white transit vehicle as she walked along a quiet path in the village of Nonnington, Kent, two weeks ago.
The dog walker was allegedly pestered by a man in Nonington as she walked her dog. She managed to distract him before fleeing and shouting out for help.
It is also understood PCSOs patrolling the village near Canterbury have warned women out walking their dogs to ‘veer from their normal route’ and avoid the woodland areas after their colleague’s death.
Meanwhile villagers have claimed that there had been a spate of dognapping incidents in the area prior to Ms James’s death.
Residents living between Nonington and Aylesham reported hearing of incidents in which dog walkers were attacked as they walked their pets in the surrounding countryside.
Bob Hales, 74, a retired HGV driver, who lives between Aylsham and Nonington said there had been a wave of attempted dognappings in surrounding villages in recent months.
He said: ‘We did have a little spate of attempted dognappings around here, mainly in Wingham.
‘It was in the last few weeks. Apparently there was a van going around with RSPCA on the side, but it wasn’t really the RSPCA.
‘I know about it because my wife is in the Wingham WI [Women’s Institute].
‘It’s quite concerning. Our dog died a few years so thankfully we don’t have to worry about it so much.’
Villagers have continued to pay tributes to Ms James. Snowdown Colliery Welfare Male Voice Choir expressed its ‘deepest sympathies’ with the family, friends and colleagues of Julia.
In a Facebook post on behalf of all members of the choral group, it said: ‘We would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Julia James after the tragic incident that occurred on Tuesday.
‘Our thoughts go out to everyone in the community who has been affected by these events.’
A team of police officers continue to search bushes close to the scene on Sunday
A police tent can be seen near Ackholt Woodon Sunday as officers search for evidence in the death of PSCO James
Police officers form a line as they search through a field for information near Ackholt Wood on Sunday
Local residents continued to add bouquets to the pile of floral tributes placed on a village green mining memorial in the centre of Aylesham.
The card fastened to one bouquet vowed to deliver justice for Julia.
It read: ‘PCSO Julia James your police family will get you justice. Thank you for your service. Sleep Tight. X’
Two officers remained under a blue gazebo erected on the village green for members of the public to share concerns with police early on Sunday afternoon.
Another officer in black uniform led a German Shepherd police dog on circles of the village green.
Away from the centre of the village, four Kent Police vans, a police SUV, a police car and more than 10 unmarked police vehicles could be seen in the carpark of the Aylesham Community Project Building, which appears to be being used as a temporary police base.
Away from the centre of the village, four Kent Police vans, a police SUV, a police car and more than 10 unmarked police vehicles could be seen in the carpark of the Aylesham Community Project Building, which appears to be being used as a temporary police base. Pictured: Police at the scene on Saturday
Six officers split up in pairs and wearing fluorescent jackets were trekking through farmers’ fields behind Akholt Woods, between Snowdown and Aylesham. Pictured: Police at the scene on Sunday
Six officers split up in pairs and wearing fluorescent jackets were trekking through farmers’ fields behind Akholt Woods, between Snowdown and Aylesham.
A police SUV remains parked up by the side of the woods, visible from Pond Lane in Aylesham.
A heavy police presence is still in place on Aylesham Road, with seven police cars and three vans parked up on the road near the woods. The lane remains blocked off by a police cordon.
Meanwhile the National Crime Agency (NCA) have today joined the investigation, it has been revealed.
The NCA primarily focuses on organised crime, human, weapon and drug trafficking, cyber crime and economic crime that goes across regional and international borders.
However they can be brought into any investigation where it is needed. The NCA’s extensive experience in cyber crime is one of its key assets to local police forces.
A National Crime Agency spokesperson said: ‘The NCA’s Major Crime Investigative Support unit is providing specialist support and advice to the ongoing Kent Police investigation.’
The spokesperson did not give specific details into why the NCA had been called into help the investigation.
Yesterday, an uncle of Ms James urged the public to help the hunt for her killer, saying: ‘Let’s find this monster before he can cause more grief to another family.’
Dozens of officers have combed the woods and surrounding fields since Tuesday afternoon, when her body was found but they have yet to find a murder weapon or a significant clue to her attacker’s identity.
Heartbroken uncle Michael Turnbull, from Canterbury, appealed on social media for the public’s help to catch the killer.
‘Julia has been taken from us by some worthless, cowardly excuse for a human being for no other reason than his own sense of self-gratification to justify what he did, leaving behind a family full of broken hearts and sadness,’ he said.
He told how she was a mother to two children, Bethan and Patrick, and a grandmother to Jaxxon. ‘Julia was funny, kind, caring, always saw the good in people and, most of all, was full of love.
‘Please share this and let us find this monster before he can cause more grief to another family.’
His moving appeal came as the police community support officer’s daughter Bethan Coles, son-in-law Chase and grandson Jaxxon paid a visit to a makeshift memorial to read the heartfelt messages left with dozens of floral tributes.
Heartbroken uncle Michael Turnbull (pictured left), from Canterbury, appealed on social media for the public’s help to catch the killer. PCSO Julia James (pictured right) was killed while out walking her Jack Russell in Ackholt Wood in Snowdown, in Kent
Mrs James had been working from home when she took her dog Toby for an afternoon walk.
She was seen leaving at around 3pm before her body was found an hour later on a country path with her loyal Jack Russell waiting by her side.
Kent Police investigators described a potential sexual motive for the murder as ‘an important line of inquiry’.
They declined to disclose whether her body was found fully clothed.
Detectives have also not ruled out a link to Mrs James’s work as a PCSO with the Kent force, most recently as a member of its domestic violence unit.
Floral tributes have been left near the scene were PCSO James was murdered. Police are still searching the area looking for the murder weapon or evidence linking the killer to the crime
Two women lay flowers in a park in Aylesham village at the weekend, close to the scene where PSCO Julia James was found
Two PCSOs patrol the area near to the flowers left for PCSO Julia James at a park in Aylesham village in Kent
Local residents have voiced their fears over the killer still being at large. One female dog walker reported a man in a van exposing himself to her two weeks ago, a mile from the scene of the murder.
The killing occurred just two miles from where Lin Russell, 45, and daughter Megan, six, were bludgeoned to death in 1996. Nine-year-old daughter Josie was left close to death but recovered.
Mrs James’s husband Paul, 57, a hypnotherapist she married four years ago, has so far been too upset to speak of his loss. Her son Patrick Davis, 23, has said he is devastated by his mother’s death.
Police colleagues have also been paying tribute to the PCSO, who served for 15 years, by leaving flowers by the village of Aylesham’s mining memorial not far from her home.