Patrols in Sittingbourne have made arrests over the weekend whilst tackling anti-social behaviour and enforcing a dispersal order. The order was instigated following concerns from residents and businesses owners about incidents of disorder in the town.
Officers were on patrol in the High Street at around 5.30pm on Friday 9 August 2024, when they received a report of a disturbance in which a 38-year-old local man was promptly arrested and taken into custody on suspicion of a public order offence and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. He was later bailed to return to the police station, pending further investigation.
At 11.34am on Sunday 11 August, constables were called to Station Street following another incident where a 32-year-old man from Faversham was detained on suspicion of assault, a public order offence, theft and being drunk and disorderly. The suspect was later bailed with conditions not to enter Sittingbourne High Street.
Patrols were also called to reports of teenagers causing a nuisance in town centre supermarkets, where eggs were reportedly thrown at parked cars.
One of those involved, a 14-year-old boy, was identified and issued with a formal warning in the presence of a parent. The warning requires the child to behave himself and includes the risk of further sanctions if he comes to the attention of the police again.
Inspector Vanessa Foster, of the Swale Community Safety Unit said:
‘Local people and shopkeepers have contacted us to highlight incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town committed by a small number of people.
‘A dispersal order is one of the tools at our disposal and was used to good effect over the weekend. As can be seen, both adults and children can cause issues for the community and my officers were perfectly placed in the town to respond swiftly and make early interventions.
‘I am determined to maintain a visible deterrent in the town and those who fail to learn their lesson will continue to be arrested and ultimately brought to justice.’