so please take it easy on the police in Kent, they are not trained in a situation like this. They are not trained in dealing with exotic animals. Please calmly call them with out being cocky and talk to them and explain to them that everything is alright. Call the city as well and let them know everything is alright. No one is going to be harmed by this animal and they should be ok.
The reason why I say this is because this how Bans start on exotic animals. People fear them and are afraid they will cause on told damages and is a immediate danger to the public. To help our cause, have your friends and family talk to the authorities and let them know, its alright.
Unfortunately, in the UK this wouldn't do the reptile-keeping cause much good.
For starters, it will alert the (very anti-reptile) RSPCA to your existence and you could find yourself on the wrong end of an inspection. This is never a good thing, as the RSPCA refuse to train their inspectors in exotics and all sorts of unpleasantness can arise from their ignorance, regardless of how well you're keeping your reptiles.
Secondly, why would the police believe you?
Also, your good offices will never make the press, as they're only interested in the Shock!Horror! stories. So it still won't do any good as far as publicity goes.
In addition, the press love a "Point At The Local Crank" story, so you could find yourself with a lot of unwanted personal publicity.
Sorry, but from past experience of other situations like this, sticking your head above the parapet can bring untold trouble.
Bans on exotic animals as pets are a real risk in the UK, but that's due to the political animal rights agenda of our major so-called "animal welfare" organisation. It's easier for them to push a ban through if they can keep up the hysteria (which they work hard at, bless 'em), but one lone keeper phoning the police & council saying it's alright, won't counter that, even if you do recruit friends and family to repeat the message.
We have reptile-keeping organisations in the UK who work hard to counter restrictive legislation proposals, but they just don't have the resources of the RSPCA, which can fleece little old ladies of pension money in primetime TV ads [/CYNICAL]
or perhaps you can give us some more info.
