The sign was spotted on the window at Maidstone Police station (Picture: DannyDutch/Google

Rape and sexual assault have been classified as ‘non-emergency’ crimes that could be reported online in Kent.

An A4 print-out on the window of the front door of a police station in Maidstone alerted members of the public that ‘non-emergency enquiries’ can be reported via a form online.

Crimes such as rape and sexual assault were listed alongside road traffic violations and anti-social behaviour.

Kent Police is now facing a backlash on Twitter after a picture of the controversial sign was shared.

The force said it has since been removed (Picture: DannyDutch)

‘This is what police think about sexual violence,’ said Michael Doherty, former Parliamentary candidate for Uxbridge and south Ruislip.

Many blasted the poster as ‘disgusting’, adding it was ‘further proof police in this country are not fit for purpose’.

Another chipped in: ‘Kent Police in solidarity with the Met.’ It is unclear how long the sign had been up before it made its way to social media.

But it comes at a time when public confidence in policing in the country is at an all-time low.

This has only been cemented by the findings in he Casey review commissioned in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard’s kidnap, rape and murder.

The damning new report named the Metropolitan Police as ‘institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic’.

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Similar misconduct has also been reported in police forces across the country.

A spokesperson for Kent Police told The Telegraph it had since been removed and replaced by another one clarifying the advice.

They said: ‘The poster in question was put up by a member of police staff at the front counter in Maidstone police station.

‘It has since been removed and replaced by a poster clarifying our advice about how best to report crimes to us.’

This comes just days before a Kent police constable was charged with misconduct in a public office for ‘abusing his position for a sexual purpose’.

PC Matthew Peall is alleged to have pursued an inappropriate relationship with a witness during the course of an investigation in Canterbury.

He was charged following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and will attend Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 23.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Kent Police for a further comment.

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‘This is what police think about sexual violence.’