Faversham

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.

Kent Police officers have charged a man with carrying an air rifle in a public place in Faversham.

Armed police were called to the Abbey Fields area on Saturday (17th February) following reports of a man seen with a weapon.

An extensive search of the area was carried out with the aid of the NPAS police helicopter.

Further enquires led to the seizure of an air rifle and the arrest and charging of Daniel Powell, aged 35 and from St Johns Avenue here in Sittingbourne.

He has been released on bail to appear before Maidstone Magistrates Court on Friday 16th March.

Swale Friends of the Earth say they were overwhelmed on Sunday (11th February) morning by a magnificent turnout for the litter pick along Faversham Creek and the saltmarshes.

The event was organised to support the upcoming ‘Say No to Throwaway Plastics Week' in Faversham (18 - 24 Feb). The aim was to collect the litter along the Saxon Shore Way to prevent the rubbish, particularly the plastic, from further degrading this valuable and bio-diverse place. 

A Belgian pilot has appeared in court charged with dropping barrels of cocaine from a light aircraft into the Kent countryside.

Rudi Sels, 65, from Balen near Antwerp, was arrested by officers from the Belgian National Police on Friday 20th October.

Sels was subject of a European Arrest Warrant requested by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of their investigation into an incident in June 2016, which led to the recovery of 31 kilos of cocaine with a potential street value of £2.5m from a builders yard in Faversham.

The M2 is currently closed whilst emergency services deal with a serious collision between a van and motorcycle between Junctions 6 and 7 at Faversham.

The coast-bound carriageway is expected to remain closed for the next few hours while emergency services deal with the incident, causing lengthy delays.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area if possible.

Kent Police have confirmed that the incident was reported to them at 8.24am this morning (Friday 16th June).

A 21-year-old man, who was caught after he robbed a pizza delivery man and boasted about it on social media, has been jailed for over three years.

At around 11.30pm on Friday 10th March, a delivery man was carrying a pizza in Preston Street, Faversham, when he was approached by two men who punched and kicked him to the ground. When a member of the public came to the victim's aid, the two men stole the pizza and the victim's baseball cap.

Local motorists are being warned that the M2 will be closed both ways between Junction 5 (Sittingbourne) and Junction 6 (Faversham) junctions during this weekend.

The motorway will closed for carriageway strengthening between 8pm and 6am on Saturday (14th January), Sunday (15th January) and Monday (16th January).

For more information please see: roads.highways.gov.uk/.

Local motorists have been warned to expect delays for the next month on the M2 due to ongoing roadworks.

Work is currently under way to "repair and strengthen the foundations of the carriageway to maintain safety" between junctions 5 and 6 for Sittingbourne and Faversham and is set to end on Wednesday 21st December. Lane two will be closed in both directions on either side of the central reserve and narrow lanes will be in operation in lane one and on the hard shoulder, with a 50mph speed limit in place.

British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing for information after a platinum diamond wedding band valued at £3,300 was stolen from the 6.57am Canterbury East to Faversham train on Wednesday 27th July.

A woman took off her ring to moisturise her hands leaving it on a train seat next to her. After disembarking the train at Faversham she returned to her seat with train staff but the ring could not be found.

Police are appealing for information from people who may recognise the man in the CCTV image as he may have information which could help with their investigation.

Kent Police are investigating an incident in which a teenage girl was found lying unconscious on the side of the road and are appealing for any information.

The 14-year-old was discovered by members of the public near the Western Link roundabout in Faversham, at about 12.40am on Tuesday 19th July.

She was not seriously injured but has no memory of how she came to be unconscious.

It has been reported that a sexual offence may have been committed against her.