Kent Police

Two boys, aged 12 and 14, have been charged with criminal damage after Swale Borough Council’s (SBC) offices in Sittingbourne were vandalised during a heated meeting on asylum policy just before Christmas.

The incident took place at Swale House on Wednesday 10th December, when tensions rose during a debate on whether the borough of Swale should become a “district of sanctuary”—a move that would have offered additional support to asylum seekers already living in the area. 

A burglar who posed as a workman and broke into several electricity substations across east Kent has been jailed.

Mark Baker, 40, admitted targeting sites between September and December 2025 that included Ashford, Canterbury and Herne Bay where dozens of homes were impacted by his crimes.

A week-long operation targeting county line drug dealing led to 47 people being arrested and more than £100,000 in cash being seized by Kent Police.

A total of 28 weapons including machetes, samurai swords, crossbows and knives were also recovered between Monday 2nd and Sunday 8th March. Of the 47 suspects arrested, 23 have since been charged with 63 separate offences.

During the proactive week, 40 separate addresses were searched, with officers making 29 drug seizures including heroin, crack cocaine, GHB, ketamine, steroids and methamphetamine.

Three robbers who stole thousands of pounds’ worth of mobile phones from a store in Sittingbourne have been convicted.

On Thursday 17th October 2024, Ionut Calin entered the store in The Forum Shopping Centre in the High Street with Dobre Vasile-Iosif and Valentin Ciuraru where they threatened members of staff before demanding they open the secure safe where the phones are kept.

More than £50,000 worth of mobile phones and other electrical devices were taken before all three fled the scene in a waiting vehicle.

Dangerous drivers were reported and cars were seized by officers tackling nuisance motorists in Sittingbourne at the end of last month.

On Wednesday 25th February patrols attended the High Street area to carry out checks following concerns raised about road safety in the area.

During the day, a total of 13 traffic offence reports were given to drivers for offences such as mobile phone use at the wheel, having no insurance and not wearing a seatbelt.

Three vehicles were seized along with four e-scooters.

A violent offender who chased a man into traffic with a machete has been jailed for 16 years.

Chris Maclean, 43, admitted to the manslaughter of Jay Gerrett, who died after being hit by a car on St Michael’s Road, Sittingbourne.

At around 9.10pm on Saturday 2nd August 2025, another man, Jack Hunt, led Mr Gerrett to Pembury Street to sell him drugs. A conversation occurred between the two in the road, which quickly soured and escalated into shouting.

Witnesses and dashcam footage are sought by officers investigating a fatal collision at Kemsley near Sittingbourne.

The incident happened on Swale Way at approximately 10.10am yesterday (Wednesday 25th February) morning.

Waste carriers were targeted earlier this month (Thursday 5th February) as part of a new regular crackdown on fly-tipping in the borough. 

 Swale Borough Council teamed up with Kent Police’s Community Safety Unit (CSU) to tackle suspected fly-tipping, collect evidence, and take enforcement action for waste related crimes. 

Officers stopped and searched vehicles transporting waste, checking their paperwork, and gathering evidence for further investigation, including serial numbers of unlawfully transported car parts.

Thousands of pounds worth of groceries have been recovered and four women arrested following reports of shoplifting from a supermarket in Sittingbourne.

At about 2.50pm on Sunday (15th February) Kent Police were called after CCTV captured a group leaving the Sainsbury store on Avenue of Remembrance with several trolleys full of goods without paying.

When officers arrived, the suspects had already left in two vehicles. These were quickly identified by officers from the Community Safety Unit and traced to another supermarket in Bysing Wood Road, Faversham.

Kent Police have confirmed that a dispersal order will be in place in Sittingbourne for two days to assist officers should any antisocial behaviour occur.

Enforcement began at 4pm today (Monday 16th February) and will run until 4pm on Wednesday (18th February). 

It covers multiple areas around the town centre extending to East Street, St Paul’s Street, London Road and Park Road. This area includes Sittingbourne Retail Park, Sittingbourne Train Station, Mill Way Skate Park and Albany Park Recreation Ground.