Sittingbourne

Shops in Swale have been fined and given words of advice after being caught selling alcohol and e-cigarettes to children.

Officers from the town centre teams in Sittingbourne and Sheerness worked with five police cadets on Saturday (29th January).

The volunteers, aged between 14 and 16, visited 11 shops and attempted to buy alcohol and e-cigarettes as part of a proactive operation to safeguard young people.

Local anti-litter charity, Litter Angels, have won £500 from the Asda Foundation’s Green Token Giving initiative to assist with tackling litter across Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

Shoppers could vote for their chosen charity between 1^st October and 30^th November via the Asda Foundation’s website.

Litter Angels received £500 as the winner and two runners-up received £200 each.

An appeal for witnesses has been issued by Kent Police following a serious collision near Sittingbourne earlier today (Friday 28th January).

At around 12.35pm a blue Ford Fiesta had left the Oad Street junction in Stockbury when it was involved in a collision with a white Ford Ranger travelling on the southbound carriageway of the A249 Sittingbourne Road, just past the Stockbury roundabout.

A woman sustained serious injuries and was taken to a London hospital.

A motorist, who sped past Kent Police patrols at 130mph, has been arrested after failing to stop for police on the M2 in Sittingbourne.

The patrol observed the motorist driving erratically shortly before 9.40pm last night (Monday 24th January) and signalled for him to stop. The car failed to stop for the officers and continued until the driver pulled over and attempted to run away. He was caught and failed a roadside drugs swipe for cannabis and cocaine.

Dashcam footage is being sought after a stone thrown from a bridge in Borden struck a motorhome travelling on the M2.

The incident happened at around 4.30pm yesterday afternoon (Monday 24th January) in the Oad Street area of Borden.

The driver, who was unharmed, told police that she saw three boys on the bridge prior to the incident. The stone hit the roof of the motorhome before colliding with the windscreen. The vehicle remained driveable and she reached a place of safety before calling the police.

A Sittingbourne resident, who used social media apps in attempts to groom a child for sex offences, has been jailed.

Michael Smith repeatedly sent indecent images and videos of himself to another user who he believed was only 13 years old.

A suspected burglar has been arrested after a victim of crime provided key information to police soon after a theft in Sittingbourne.

Kent Police were called at 12.30pm on Tuesday (11th January) following a report that the window of a vehicle had been smashed in Gadby Road and power tools stolen.

Following some detective work of his own, the owner suspected the stolen tools were being kept in the Wentworth Drive area and called the police.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) were called to reports of a fire at a bungalow in Swanton Street, in Bredgar, yesterday (Saturday 1st January) afternoon.

Seven fire engines attended, shortly after 3:30pm, along with a bulk water carrier and a height vehicle. 

Crews wore breathing apparatus while using hose reel jets and fog spikes to extinguish the fire, which is believed to have started in the roof space of the property. 

No injuries were reported, however two adults suffered symptoms of suspected shock. 

Investigators are appealing for witnesses to a disturbance on Christmas Day (Saturday 25th December) in Sheerness.

The incident happened in a car park near Trinity Road. At around 6.50am, it is alleged several people were involved in an altercation during which damage was caused to two cars.

Kent Police patrols attended the scene where those involved had left prior to their arrival. Following enquiries, a car was stopped by officers at junction 5 of the M2, at around 9.10am.

Kent County Council (KCC) have confirmed that they are planning to allocate £3 million to "temporarily" enlarge three secondary schools in Sittingbourne, to accomodate extra pupils, from next September (2022) and the following year.

KCC say they have identified the need for extra secondary places schools at Westlands, The Sittingbourne School and Fulston Manor because new housing developments are boosting the borough of Swale's population, saying there is a need for "swift action" as they forsee" a shortfall" of 176 spaces for Year 7 starters in September 2023.