Local News

A man killed following a shooting near Sittingbourne has been named as 56 year-old Steven Langley, a former Kent Firefighter.

Mr Langley died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen in Tonge on Friday afternoon (29th November), during an incident which Kent Police officers are now treating as a murder investigation.

Kent Police had initially been called at 2.45pm to reports that a man had been wounded in Lower Road. Mr Langley was pronounced dead at the scene.

Simon Olsen, aged 54 and of no fixed abode, was charged with Mr Langley's murder over the weekend and remains in police custody.

Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Detective Inspector Gavin Moss, of the Serious Crime Directorate told SFM News: "We are continuing to investigate the circumstances that have led to this tragic death. Mr Langley was a much loved father and husband and was also a well known member of his local community".

The victim's wife, Lucia Langley, paid tribute to her husband, who ran the Bax Farm Fisheries in Tonge and told SFM News "He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold. He loved his family, who always came first, and he would do anything for anybody."

Kent Police are urging residents throughout Swale to safeguard their homes and their belongings with the help of free anti-burglary packs.

Officers will be in Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey for the remainder of this month, handing out infra-red battery operated alarms, UV pens to mark property, timer switches to help make empty homes appear occupied and personal attack alarms. The packs are free as part of Kent Police's Stay Safe this Autumn campaign.

Police Community Support Officers will be handing them out, offering crime prevention advice and listening to residents' concerns at a number of Police Contact Points across Swale. In addition to being able to contact Kent Police via phone, email, social media and traditional police stations, members of the public can also engage with officers at Police Contact Points. They are held each day from Wednesday through to Sunday when police vans will stop at a prominent location for an hour and mainly visit rural locations.

District Commander for Swale, Chief Inspector Tony Henley of Kent Police,told SFM News: "My officers will be out and about across the three towns and rural areas, offering crime prevention advice and listening to any concerns you may have. While we do all we can to arrest and put before the courts those that commit burglary in our communities, why not take some simple steps yourself to ensure you are not a victim of crime. By visiting one of our Police Contact Points, you can get a free anti-burglary pack and pick up some valuable tips to keep yourself and your property safe.
‘Police Contact Points are just another way in which you can contact your local officer, you can also get in contact with your neighbourhood policing by calling 101, through Twitter, online beat meetings, town surgeries and of course by visiting your local station."

Officers will be at the following locations this month:

Wednesday 13th November
- 12pm-1pm at Selling Railway Station, Selling Road in Selling.
- 2pm-3pm at Boughton Village Hall, Bull Lane in Boughton-under-Blean.
- 5pm-6pm at Northdown, off The Street in Doddington.

Thursday 14th November
- 12pm-1pm at St John the Baptist Church, Tunstall Road in Tunstall.
- 2pm-3pm at Mountview in Borden.
- 5pm-6pm at Bredgar Village Hall, Bexon Lane in Sittingbourne.

Friday 15th November
- 12pm - 1pm Newington Village Hall, High Street, Sittingbourne ME9 7JJ
- 2pm - 3pm Upchurch Village Hall, The Street, Sittingbourne ME9 7EU
- 5pm - 6pm Lower Halstow Village Hall, School Lane, Lower Halstow ME9 7ET

Saturday 16th November
- 12pm-1pm at Sheerstone in Iwade.
- 2pm-3pm at Eastchurch Village Hall, Warden Road in Eastchurch.
- 5pm-6pm at Swale Council car park, Imperial Drive in Warden.

Sunday 17th November
- 12pm-1pm outside Teynham Village Hall, Belle Friday Close in Teynham.
- 2pm-3pm at St Laurence Church, The Street in Bapchild.
- 5pm-6pm at Bobbing Village Hall, Sheppey Way in Bobbing.

Wednesday 27th November
- 12pm-1pm at Selling Railway Station, Selling Road in Selling.
- 2pm-3pm at Boughton Village Hall, Bull Lane in Boughton-under-Blean.
- 5pm-6pm at Northdown, off The Street in Doddington.

Thursday 28th November
- 12pm-1pm at St John the Baptist Church, Tunstall Road in Tunstall.
- 2pm-3pm at Mountview, Borden.
- 5pm-6pm at Bredgar Village Hall, Bexon Lane in Sittingbourne.

Friday 29th November
- 12pm-1pm at Newington Village Hall, High Street in Sittingbourne.
- 2pm-3pm at Upchurch Village Hall, The Street in Sittingbourne.
- 5pm-6pm at Lower Halstow Village Hall, School Lane in Lower Halstow.

Saturday 30th November
- 12pm-1pm at Sheerstone in Iwade.
- 2pm-3pm at Eastchurch Village Hall, Warden Road in Eastchurch.
- 5pm-6pm at Swale Council car park, Imperial Drive in Warden.

Kent Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was reportedly robbed of his mobile phone in Sittingbourne.

Officers are investigating the circumstances around the incident, which is alleged to have taken place between 8.50pm and 9.15pm on Saturday (2nd November) evening.

The victim, a local man in his 30s, was walking along Mill Way, near the junction with Tribune Drive, wearing earphones when he was approached by two men.

One of his assailants hit him in the face and demanded his Samsung Galaxy mobile phone. The victim handed it over and the offenders made off.

Both offenders are described as white men aged approximated 28 to 30. The first is described as being of fat build, wearing a white jacket. He was around 5ft 8ins tall, with cropped hair and stubble. The second man was around 6ft tall, with cropped hair and a slim build. He was believed to be wearing a blue jacket, a sports jacket, white shoes and jeans.

Investigating officer, DC Stewart Catt of Kent Police, told SFM News that "the victim was left shaken by this assault, when violence was used to steal a valuable piece of his property. We take all such incidents very seriously and I would welcome anybody who witnessed the robbery, or who may have information regarding it, getting in touch."

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to call DC Catt directly on 01634 792418, quoting crime reference XY/35383/13 or, alternatively, they can contact Kent Crimestoppers free (from any landline) and anonimously on 0800 555111.

Members of the NUT (National Union Of Teachers) and NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers) are taking industrial action on Thursday 17th October and a number of local schools in the Sittingbourne area are likely to be affected.

The unions are taking the action over a range of issues affecting teachers including pay, pensions, what they say are excessive workloads, working conditions and job cuts. They say teachers are deeply concerned about the impact these imposed changes are having on the morale of the teaching profession, the recruitment and retention of teachers and on the provision of quality education for pupils.

The Government's Education Secretary, Michael Gove, is accused of making changes to teachers' pay, pensions and conditions of service which in turn are making it harder for schools to recruit and retain good teachers. The main bone of contention in this dispute is the Government's intention to introduce of a tougher version of performance related pay in, what the unions describe, is an attack on national pay structures. 

It is anticipated that three Sittingbourne schools will be completely closed to pupils tomorrow - Westlands, Sittingbourne Community College and Murston Junior School. These three schools will be shut to all year groups whilst there will also be partial closures at Fulston Manor, Borden Grammar and the Milton Court Academy.

Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for the latest on those school closures from 7.00am on "Pete Flynn In The Morning" or check this website and/or our Twitter feed @SFMRadio - which is also displayed on our Main Page on this website.