A man has been charged with theft after being apprehended with four legs of lamb, as Swale police intensified their efforts to combat retail crime and disorderly behaviour in Sittingbourne town centre.
Officers, patrolling the High Street on Sunday, February 23, 2025, under a dispersal order aimed at curbing anti-social conduct by local youths, responded to reports of meat stolen from Sainsbury’s on Avenue of Remembrance. With the aid of CCTV operators, they tracked and detained a suspect.
A man aged 42 from Sittingbourne, was arrested and taken into custody. Four joints of lamb were recovered. He has since been charged with three counts of theft, involving meat and bakery products valued at £85. West was initially remanded in custody and appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court, before being conditionally bailed to reappear on April 11.
The crackdown also saw neighbourhood constables issuing dispersal orders to four teenagers for causing a disturbance in the town centre. Two boys, who had damaged artificial plants, were required to write apology letters and are barred from The Forum shopping centre until April 1.
This latest action follows the arrests of three teenage boys earlier in the week, on February 19 and 20, in connection with an arson attack on a litter bin in the High Street. All three have been bailed pending further investigation.
Inspector Julia Bassindale said:
‘My town centre policing team are determined to tackle those who target local businesses by stealing products, committing criminal damage or behaving in a persistently disorderly manner.
‘We are driving down reports of antisocial behaviour across Swale and residents can be reassured that we will respond promptly and robustly to those who choose to offend. Parents of teenagers coming to our attention can also expect a prompt visit at any time of the day from our constables and other partner agencies.’