Local News

Another Taxi Driver Robbery - This Time In Kemsley

Another Taxi Driver Robbery - This Time In Kemsley

Kent Police officers are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver reported being robbed in Kemsley.

The incident happened at around 8.30pm on Saturday (15 September) evening on Flanders Close in Kemsley, after a man had called to book a taxi from the area.

The victim had knocked for the man when he appeared from nearby and told the taxi driver the call was for him. As both men got into the taxi the man pulled out a knife and used it to threaten the taxi driver. The victim quickly got out of the car and locked it with the man still inside. The suspect then kicked out the front passenger window before climbing through it and running off. The man then ran out of the close and towards Ypres Drive towards the direction of the train station.

The suspect has been described as a white man who was about 5ft 10ins tall and was wearing black baggy trousers, a dark long sleeved baggy top and a white scarf with blue stripes which was covering his head so only his eyes were visible.

Officers are connecting this incident to a previous incident in which another taxi driver was robbed last week. That incident was reported to have happened between 10.30pm and 10.40pm on Wednesday 12th on Meads Avenue, Sittingbourne, where a taxi driver was robbed of cash after a man had booked a taxi.

In this incident the suspect had been described as white, stocky build, around 5ft 10ins and wearing a grey jumper, dark grey jogging bottoms and wearing a black scarf which was covering most of his face. He was also wearing a pair of gloves and the hood to his jumper was pulled up.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Kent Police Appeals Line for Swale on 01795 419 119 quoting crime reference XY/58943//18.

Alternatively they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police Appeal Following Taxi Driver Robbery

Police Appeal Following Taxi Driver Robbery

Police officers are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver was robbed in the Sittingbourne area.

The incident is reported to have happened between 10.30pm and 10.40pm on Wednesday (12th September) in Meads Avenue.

It's understood that a man booked a taxi and requested to be collected from Meads Avenue and then taken to Newington. The taxi driver had just started driving when the man asked him to stop. The suspect then took out a bread knife and threatened the driver before demanding that he hand over cash. The driver handed out a quantity of money before the suspect left the scene.

The suspect is described as being white, of stocky build, around 5ft 10ins and wearing a grey jumper, dark grey jogging bottoms and wearing a black scarf, which was covering most of his face. He was also wearing a pair of gloves and the hood to his jumper was pulled up.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Kent Police Appeals Line for Swale on 01795 419 119 quoting crime reference number XY/058339/18 or, alternatively, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

Appeal Following Fatal Collision On A249 Detling Hill

Appeal Following Fatal Collision On A249 Detling Hill

Collison investigators are appealing for witnesses following a fatal incident on the A249 Detling Hill earlier today (Thursday 13th September).

Kent Police were called at 6.25am this morning after a red Yamaha motorcycle and a grey Renault people carrier collided on the Sittingbourne-bound carriageway.

Police officers and the South East Coast Ambulance Service attended and sadly the motorcyclist, a man aged in his 30s, died at the scene. His next of kin have been made aware.

The carriageway was closed from the M20 Junction 7 through to the M2 Junction 5, whilst emergency services remained at the scene. The road was re-opened shortly after 3.00pm.

Anyone who saw the collision, or either of the vehicles prior to the collision, is asked to call Kent Police on 01622 798538, quoting reference DK/NR/127/18. Officers are particularly interested in speaking to those who may have dash cam footage. Alternatively you can email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.

 

 

Police Release CCTV After Faversham Burglary

Police Release CCTV After Faversham Burglary

Kent Police have released CCTV of two men they would like to talk to in connection with a burglary in the Faversham area.

A house was reported to have been broken into between 9.30pm on Saturday 25th August and 6.30am on Sunday 26th August in Lion Field, Faversham.

No items were taken from inside the property but windows to the rear of the house were smashed and copper piping had been pulled up from the floor of an upstairs room which led to the boiler.

Having carried out various enquiries our officers have identified CCTV images of two men they would like to talk to in connection with the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call our appeal line for Faversham on 01795 419119 quoting crime reference XY/053991/18.

Drug Driving Arrest Made In Chestnut Street

Drug Driving Arrest Made In Chestnut Street

A drug driving arrest was made following a recent morning of traffic checks carried out in the Sittingbourne area by the Kent Special Constabulary.

The Special Constables carried out routine safety checks on vehicles travelling in the Chestnut Street area on Tuesday (4th September) mornings and as a result a 38-year-old woman from Sheerness was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled drug. She has since been released, pending further enquiries.

The vehicle being driven was also believed to have been uninsured and has also been seized. In addition to this arrest 10 speeding tickets were issued to drivers exceeding the 30mph limit. The highest speed being recorded as 48mph.

A Special Constable is an unpaid volunteer who gives up at least 16 hours of their own time every month supporting regular police officers. They have full police powers, wear a uniform and carry standard-issue police equipment.

Anyone who might be interested in becoming a Special Constable can find out more by visiting: www.kent.police.uk or they can follow @KentSpecials on Twitter.

Vote For Oare In Green Flag People's Choice Awards

Vote For Oare In Green Flag People's Choice Awards

Local residents and visitors are being asked to go online and vote for Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park as their favourite park in the country.

The park was among 1,883 UK parks and green spaces that received a prestigious Green Flag Award in July - the mark of a quality park or green space.

That win means it is eligible for the People's Choice Award, where the public get to pick the 10 best parks in the country.

Swale Borough Council, which manages the park, is asking visitors and residents to get online and vote for Oare.

Over the past few years, the council has worked with the Friends of Oare Gunpowder Works to help improve the park, with work being done to improve habitats and new and improved paths through the park.

Cllr David Simmons, cabinet member for environment and rural affairs at the council, told SFM: "Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park is a well-loved park that has something to offer everyone. To the people that use it, it is a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, relax among the wildlife and discover some local history. It has become one of our most loved parks and I strongly I encourage people to vote to show how much the park means to them."

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award manager told SFM News: "This year 1,883 parks and green spaces met the tough standards demanded by our Green Flag Award Judges but we want to know which parks the UK public love the most. The People's Choice award is a chance to show how much your favourite park means to you. If it's worth shouting about, make your voice heard and vote now."

A spokesperson for The Friends of Oare Gunpowder Works told SFM News: "We are proud to support both the council and the people who use and enjoy the country park. It is a space where local people and visitors can relax, enjoy the site and the wildlife, in a safe and peaceful environment. To continue to receive the Green Flag awards is great feedback, but to be voted in the top ten would be wonderful."

Voting opened on 1st September and closes 30th September, with the top 10 sites being announced on 16th October.

To vote, click here to go the park's page on the Green Flag Award website and click the voting button once there. If you want to encourage others to get involved too, through social media, Swale Borough Council suggest that you use the hashtag #PeoplesChoice.

 

Appeal For Witnesses To Sittingbourne Assault

Appeal For Witnesses To Sittingbourne Assault

Officers, investigating an assault in Sittingbourne, have released an image of a van driven by a motorist they would like to talk to.

The incident is believed to have happened between 11:45am and 11.50am on Friday 3rd August in Dover Street, Sittingbourne.

The victim, a man in his 20's, was driving a yellow Luton van when another driver overtook him by driving on the wrong side of the road.

Both the victim and suspect become stuck in single file traffic with a taxi between them when the suspect started to make hand gestures towards the victim.

The suspect then got out of his van and started shouting at the victim. Despite the victim saying he did not want any confrontation the suspect leant into his van and is reported to have put his hands around his neck before tightening his grip.

The suspect also made threats to hurt the victim before he let go of him and returned to his van and drove away.

The suspect is described as white, aged between 25-35 years old, around 5ft 10ins with brown hair. He had two moles on one side of his face and was of a medium build and was wearing a white vest top.

The white van driven by the suspect had distinctive alloys and also had a roof rack with three ladders secured on top of one another.

Anyone who believes they know the identity of the suspect or who witnessed the incident is asked to call Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting crime reference XY/48259/18.

Alternatively, they can contact the independent charity Crime Stoppers in Kent free (from any landline) and anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police Offer Safety Advice To Faversham Car Owners

Police Offer Safety Advice To Faversham Car Owners

Kent Police are reminding car owners in Faversham of some crime prevention advice following reports of 4X4 vehicles being targeted by thieves.

Between May and August a number of tail lights have been reported to have been stolen from vehicles parked across the town, with commercial premises and residential addresses being targeted.

It appears to be specific to Land Rover Discovery models, mostly registered after 2010, and at present no arrests have been made but officers from the Swale Community Safety Unit are conducting ongoing enquiries into the incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting XY/27867/18.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555 111.

There are a number of steps car owners can take to help keep their vehicles safe, including:

• Parking in a garage, if one is available.
• Parking in a secure car park or well-lit location whenever possible.
• Put a small security mark on your tail lights which can help police track the owner if recovered.

 

It's A-Level Results Day Here In Sittingbourne

It's A-Level Results Day Here In Sittingbourne

Hundreds of sixth form students from Borden Grammar, Fulston Manor, Highsted, Sittingbourne Community College and Westlands picked up their A Level results earlier today.

Nationally A-level students have been awarded the highest proportion of As and A*s since 2012, amid changes toughening the exams in England. Some 26.4% of exams have been awarded these top grades this year - but the proportion gaining A* to C dropped slightly to 78.4% from 79% last year.

England's exams regulator has said the results show a steady national picture at a time of significant change. Overall, 97.6% of A-level entries were awarded A* to E grades.

Examiners dismissed the rise in top grades as "extremely marginal", while Ofqual has underlined that results have remained steady - in 2012, for example, 26.6% of exams were awarded As and A*s and in 2017, 26.3% achieved these top grades.

Local results were:-

⦿ BORDEN GRAMMAR: It was another year of positive results for the school with Year 13 students achieving some of the best grades the school has ever had.

A number of students achieved three or more A* and A grades among their results. They were Dominic Byrne, Joshua Diddams, Matthew Doria, Jack Edwards, Luke Friend, Scott Hazell, Jonathan Idowu, Luke Newcombe, Samuel O'Brien, Thomas Saunders and Connor Wade.

Ben Yardley was the best performer with an A*, 2 x As and a B and he's due to take up a place at Worcester College at Oxford University to study History.

⦿ FULSTON MANOR: More than 60 students have been offered places at universities. Among the top performers were Lauren Rogers (3 x A's and 1 C) and is off to study Politics at Newcastle University, Danielle Cross (1 x A, 2 x B's and a D) who plans to do Anthropology at Durham University and Rhiannon England (2 x B's and a D) who will be doing Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics at the University of Kent.

⦿ HIGHSTED GRAMMAR: Tehti Patel got an A* in Geography, her extended project and 3 x A's in Biology, Chemistry and French and plans to go to King's College to study Medicine. Maria Doria, Anna Kent and Sian Lo all achieved 3 x A*'s and 1 x A each.

⦿ SITTINGBOURNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE and ⦿ WESTLANDS SECONDARY: Students at Westlands School and Sittingbourne Community College now study under the joint banner of Swale Sixth Form across three sites. Out of the 108 exam takers, 99 of them achieved at least one A* to C. Their top performer, Michael Warman, achieved 3 x A*'s and a C in Business, Finance and History in the extended project. He will be off to the University of Kent where he will be studying Politics And International Relations. Fellow student Max Pearn got a double A* award in Engineering, along with Maths and Physics and will be taking up employment as a Robotics Technician at an online food retailer.

Early Morning Collision Closes Road

Early Morning Collision Closes Road

The A2500 Lower Road, in Minster-On-Sea on the Isle Of Sheppey, will be CLOSED until 1.00pm this afternoon (Thursday 16th August) following a collision earlier on this morning.

The road is closed, in both directions, between the Cowstead Corner Roundabout and Thistle Hill Way following the head-on car crash between a silver Skoda Fabia and a red Toyota Hilux at around 4.00am.

The driver of the Skoda, a man in his 60s, was cut out of the vehicle by crews from the Kent Fire & Rescue Service (KFRS) using hydraulic equipment and was driven by ambulance to a London hospital with what Kent Police describe as "serious injuries".

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