Local News

The supervisor of two PCSOs who came to the rescue of a man who had suffered a medical incident in Upchurch has commended the officers for their quick thinking.

PCSOs Lee Fennell and John Cork were on patrol in Upchurch on the evening of Monday 2nd August when a member of the public flagged them down to report a man had fallen from his bike.

On arrival, they located the cyclist lying on the pavement and drifting in and out of consciousness. The pair established he was a diabetic and did not have any insulin on him.

Concerned he may be slipping into a diabetic coma, PCSO Fennell rushed to a nearby store and got a chocolate bar and orange juice while PCSO Cork stayed with him. As they were assisting the man a member of the public stopped at the scene and told the officers he was a doctor and began triage.

With the assistance of the sugary snacks, the man’s condition improved and attending medical crews confirmed the cyclists blood sugar was very low but the chocolate and orange juice had helped with his recovery.

Sergeant Ryan Chase told SFM News: "This is a good example of members of the community working with our officers to assist someone in need. I would like to commend PCSOs Fennell and Cork for their actions, as well as the member of the public who flagged them down and the doctor who stopped the moment he saw someone who needed help. Their actions potentially saved a life. Thankfully the man concerned was returned home by the ambulance crew and made a full recovery."

Rural crime investigators are appealing for information after two sheep were killed in a field in Newington.

The livestock were found dead in Church Lane on the night of Sunday 8th and Monday 9th August 2021.

Sergeant Darren Walshaw, from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force, told SFM News: "The two sheep concerned had been butchered by a person, or persons, with expertise in removing meat from a carcass and this this is naturally a distressing incident for the people who reared the animals. Fortunately, incidents of this nature are relatively rare however we do know that farm animals can be seen as a target for thieves. We are fully aware of the impact offending of this nature has on farmers and will always review all reasonable lines of enquiry. I’d also encourage members of the public, particularly people living in rural communities, to be wary of this type of offending and to contact us if they have any suspicions."

Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to call Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting 46/144168/21 or, alternatively, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers free and anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or using the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) were called to reports of two people stuck in mud on Conyer Wharf in Sittingbourne earlier this afternoon (Sunday 8th August).

Three fire engines and a Water Safety Unit were sent to the scene, and crews wearing dry suits used a throw line to access the casualties, before towing them to safety in a dinghy.

They were then passed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance. Kent Police and the Coastguard was also in attendance.

Following the incident, crews are reminding people to be aware of tide times by rivers and the coast, and to be careful in muddy areas, since it can be easy to become stuck. You should also always bring a mobile phone out with you, so that you can call for help if you're in an emergency.

Individuals involved in anti-social behaviour are the target of a Kent Police dispersal order, which is being enforced in the Murston and Great Easthall areas of town.

Across July and the beginning of August, Police have received reports of young people verbally abusing members of the public and shop staff in the Murston Road, Church Road and Harkness Court areas.

It is also reported that teenagers have been seen poorly riding quadbikes and mopeds, in addition to swimming in a lake off Mulberry Way.

The dispersal order gives officers the power to move on any individual who they suspect is involved, or likely to become involved in, nuisance behaviour. It also gives patrols the power to escort anyone under the age of 18 home. 

The order will remain in place until Friday 6th August and failure to comply with an instruction to leave the area is an offence that risks arrest.

Inspector Joel Mitchell, from the Swale Community Safety Unit, told SFM News: ‘After what has been a very disruptive year, we fully understand why people want to enjoy the summer months but that cannot be to the detriment of the wider community. Since the beginning of the school holidays, we have already received 11 reports of nuisance and abusive behaviour in this particular area and that cannot be allowed to continue. Our officers will regularly be patrolling the Murston and Great Easthall areas and will not hesitate to take proportionate action on anyone who exercises a disregard for the wellbeing and wishes of the surrounding community. I also encourage anyone affected by such behaviour to make a report, either through our website or by calling 101. This will help us continue to monitor the problem and determine any future courses of action."