High Street

A swift arrest by officers in Sittingbourne has led to a suspected burglar being charged.

Kent Police was called at 12.30am on Friday (21st February) to a report of a break-in at a business on the High Street, Milton Regis.

It was reported that a window was broken and items were taken from inside the premises before a man left the scene on foot.

Officers attended and shortly afterwards a man was detained.

A cash register was recovered following a search.

After nearly four years in the heart of Sittingbourne High Street's community The Swale Media Art Centre (SMAC), at number 34, is set to close on Friday 4th April.

(Stock Picture)

Another dispersal order is in place for two days, as Kent Police target those responsible for incidents of antisocial behaviour in Sittingbourne.

The enforcement started at 7.30pm last night (Tuesday 18th February) and has subsequently been extened to operate until 7.30pm on Saturday (22nd February) evening.

It encompasses the town centre including the A2, West Street, High Street, East Street, the Sittingbourne Retail Park, Eurolink Way, Mill Way and Albany Park.

Earlier this week the Lloyds Banking Group announced that 136 of it's various high street branches will close by March 2026.

They have confirmed that whilst the Sittingbourne Lloyds Bank bramch will remain the Halifax branch at 70-74 High Street Sittingbourne will close.

They confirmed to SFM News that the date for this closure will be  Wednesday 15th October.

Lloyds announced a few weeks ago that customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland will now be able to use any of the branches across any of its brands for in-person banking.

Neighbourhood officers have brought some robust enforcement to Sittingbourne in response to recent reports of anti-social behaviour.

A dispersal order was instigated in the town’s retail park over the weekend between 5pm on Friday (29th November) until 5pm yesterday (Sunday 1st December). Officers were deployed to the area after business owners and shoppers raised their concerns about the conduct of some visitors.

Three suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with a phone shop robbery in Sittingbourne earlier this week.

The two men and a teenage boy are alleged to have stolen thousands of pounds of stock after forcing their way into a Vodafone store in the High Street.

The incident happened at around 5.20pm on Thursday (17th October) afternoon. By 7pm, responding patrols had made arrests in a park near Canterbury Street, Gillingham. Several devices suspected to be stolen were seized.

Kent Police have confirmed that a shop has been visited following concerns raised with the local beat officer in Milton Regis.

Sittingbourne was brimming with pride and joy on Sunday (25th August) afternoon with the welcome return of Sittingbourne Carnival after a five yaer hiatus.

The 106.9 SFM Roadshow Crew were LIVE On Ait at Milton Regis Recreational Ground getting ready for the big day, with Carnival Courts from all over Kent and local business and voluntary groups with floats and displays in the procession.

A prolific thief has been banned from entering multiple stores in Sittingbourne for two years.

Lisa Willett, 45 and of Grecian Street in Maidstone, was handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) on Thursday 11th July 2024.

The CBO prohibits her from entering named stores in the town which include numerous smaller businesses and several supermarkets including Poundland, Aldi and Morrisons. She must also not enter any store she has been previously banned from and must not remain in any premises if she is told to leave by the owner or occupier.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a fire in a yard off High Street, Sittingbourne.

A call was received at 8:40 pm this evening (Thursday 11th April) and three fire engines were sent to the scene, and crews used hose reel jets and a main jet to extinguish a fire involving mattresses and hedges.

It;s believe the affected area is close to the Albany Road Car Park near the rear of the Sittingbourne Baptist Church on the High Street. 

No injuries have been reported, and the cause is not yet known.