A dispersal order will be in place over the weekend to tackle nuisance vehicles in Swale. It will operate from 7pm this eveining (Friday 19th May) until 7pm on Sunday (21st May) evening and includes Ridham Dock, Sheppey Way, Old Ferry Road, Swale Way, Barge Way, Neats Court Retail Park, Rushenden and Rushenden Marshes.

Kent Police say the enforcement "is due to an increase in reports of nuisance vehicles and, in some cases, dangerous driving at weekends. It allows officers to stop anyone involved in anti-social behaviour and move them on".

Inspector Ryan Chase, of the Swale Community Safety Unit, told SFM News: "Residents and visitors to the area have reported concerns about the dangers posed to other road users and the impact on the quality of life of the local community.The order gives our officers additional powers to require anyone causing a nuisance to leave the area and, if necessary, arrest those who return once dispersed. Those who persist in this behaviour also risk having their vehicles seized."

Anybody who wishes to report instances of antisocial behaviour should report it online via the Kent Police website at www.kent.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/

Yesterday (Monday 15th May 2023) marked the start of Operation Sceptre, an initiative to tackle knife crime across the UK which brings together all 43 police forces and the British Transport Police in a week of intensified action.

Throughout the week, Kent Police has planned activity to target knife crime from its root cause right through to enforcement. 

The operation will see officers engaging with local communities, working with young people to dispel myths around knives, or carrying out test purchases with retailers. Operation Sceptre showcases the many varied and impactful ways in which policing is working to reduce knife crime and tackle violence.

The officer leading Kent Police’s efforts in the campaign, Police Sergeant Jamie Edwards, told SFM News: "Each of the county’s districts has a tailor-made plan for the week responding most appropriately to the differing demands of knife crime in their area. Members of the public can expect to see high visibility patrolling, weapons sweeps, the use of knife arches at public houses and bars, and even engagement with local schools and youth associations. Officers will also be holding knife amnesties for those in possession of bladed weapons to forfeit them in knife boxes."

Commander Stephen Clayman is the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s knife crime lead. He told SFM News: "Introduced in 2015, Operation Sceptre has galvanised activity, dedicating a week to intensified activity twice a year. This doesn’t mean we only look at this twice a year, but Sceptre is an opportunity to really focus on our efforts to tackle knife crime at a number of levels – from engaging with young people in schools to proactive patrols and knife sweeps. As ever, partnership working is integral to our approach and this week will also shine a spotlight on the many initiatives where policing joins charities, local organisations and government to bring real change for our communities. This is an ongoing mission and one which needs collective ambition, energy and patience."

Operation Sceptre will also highlight the Home Office consultation on new knife legislation proposals to tackle the use of machetes and other bladed articles in crime. The consultation is the result of partnership working between the NPCC National Knife Crime Working Group and the Home Office with proposals developed to support policing in targeting knife crime at a number of stages from retailers to offenders.

The consultation is open to everyone and closes Tuesday 6th June. To take part please click here: Machetes and other bladed articles: proposed legislation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

On Thursday 20th April 2023 at Sittingbourne Cemetery, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) marked the previously unmarked final resting place of 23 year old Private Leslie Anderson, of the East Kent Regiment, with a CWGC headstone.

At the same time they installed a CWGC Pedestal Marker on the grave of 33 year old Royal Navy Petty Officer Stoker Harry John Baker, who was commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Both installations were the result of an appeal to the CWGC, following research by Stephen Palmer, a volunteer for the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne (HRGS), whilst he was researching into the lives of Sittingbourne’s First and Second World War casualties for the HRGS’s inter-active display, in the Heritage Hub in The Forum Shopping Centre here in Sittingbourne.

Stephen’s research identified that Leslie Anderson had enlisted as a Private with The Buffs, East Kent Regiment on 22nd August 1914 and was discharged less a year later on 27th July 1915, with tuberculosis of the lung. He was regularly assessed for his Army pension, the last time being 16th October 1918, which stated his illness was aggravated by war service and was also permanent. He died on 23rd October 1918 from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. As his illness was aggravated by war service Leslie met the criteria to be recognised as a war casualty and therefore entitled to a CWGC headstone. HRGS provided the funds to make copies of his service record and death certificate available to the CWGC to appeal for this recognition, and his appeal was accepted in November 2021.

Petty Officer Stoker Harry John Baker was commemorated on CWGC’s Chatham Naval Memorial to the Missing, which records service personnel who have no known grave and normally lost at sea. This conflicted with Harry’s situation, as he died at home after he had been discharged from the navy on 14th July 1915 due to influenza and died on 8th November 1918. Like Leslie, he died from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Stephen’s research identified that Harry was buried in Sittingbourne Cemetery in a privately marked grave, which was covered in brambles and as his headstone was not clearly readable a CWGC pedestal marker was installed.

As a spin off to Stephen’s HRGS research, he became a volunteer for the CWGC Eyes On Hands On Programme (EOHO), which allows volunteers across the country to reconnect with the war grave history and heritage on their doorstep and help CWGC to ensure these war graves – scattered across more than 12,500 locations – are clean and well-tended. This regular information from local volunteers ensures CWGC’s professional teams can be better directed and allows us to act fast if an issue is found.

There are still more CWGC headstones that the HRGS are still working on, and they are thanking all those who have been involved in the project since 2012 along with those who continue to give them encouragement and support. If you have information or wish to be involved in the War Memorials Project, you can contact: research@hrgs.co.uk .

An email has been sent to parents by The Head Teacher of Kemsley Primary Academy, Iris Homer, after an alleged attempted kidnapping was reported near the school.

Kent Police have confirmed that they: "were called to a report of an attempted abduction of a child yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 25th April) at around 4.30pm. Officers attended and, as part of their enquiries, arrested two men from Sittingbourne, aged 29 and 60, on suspicion of attempted kidnap. They remain in custody. The victim was able to leave the scene and return home safely” they confirmed.

It is believed that all children at the school were going to be told in assemblies about 'stranger danger' following the incident.

The school told SFM News: “We have been informed there was an attempted kidnap of a child by a slight/athletic man around 5ft 9in, with dark eyes, wearing black sportswear, white gloves and a full ski mask. During assembly, the children were reminded how to remain vigilant whilst walking home from school (especially pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 who have permission to do so) - walking with a friend, how to stay safe while playing outside and how to respond to potentially dangerous situations including stranger danger".

Police are reminding parents and residents to be vigilant at all times.