Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield

Road safety issues.

Neighbourhood Officers have carried out targeted speed checks and vehicle enforcement activity in key locations where residents have raised concerns about speeding and road safety, including Ashford Road, Hamstreet, Kingsnorth and Shadoxhurst.

During this activity, one driver on Hamstreet Road was issued with a Section 59 warning for the antisocial use of a vehicle. A Section 59 warning is a legal warning that can be issued when a vehicle is used in a manner that causes alarm, distress or annoyance to others. If the same driver or vehicle is involved in further antisocial use within 12 months, police have the power to seize the vehicle.

Officers also identified a number of other offences during proactive patrols. A HGV driver in Sevington Lorry Park was reported for driving otherwise than in accordance with their licence. A van linked to rogue trading and displaying cloned registration plates was located in Hamstreet and
seized, while enquiries into suspected fraud offences remain ongoing.

A routine roadside check also led to the recovery of approximately £20,000 in cash and several thousand pounds worth of suspected illegal tobacco products. Investigations into this matter continue.

In a separate incident, a vehicle failed to stop for officers and was later located after being abandoned in a rural area. Enquiries revealed the vehicle had no valid insurance or vehicle tax, and a significant quantity of suspected stolen copper piping was recovered from inside.

Officers will continue to act on information provided by residents, carry out proactive patrols and take enforcement action to tackle crime, improve road safety and protect local communities.

Wildlife crime issues.

Officers have continued to carry out high-visibility and proactive patrols in areas affected by poaching, using intelligence and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify, target and disrupt known offenders. ANPR uses cameras to automatically read vehicle registration numbers and can help officers identify vehicles linked to crime or other concerns.

Neighbourhood officers are also working closely with the Rural Task Force and are actively involved in FarmWatch, a partnership scheme that brings together farmers, landowners, rural businesses and police to share information about crime and suspicious activity in rural areas. This helps officers develop intelligence, respond quickly to emerging concerns and provide effective crime prevention support to the rural community.

Targeted patrols have been carried out along the Royal Military Canal in Ruckinge following concerns about illegal poaching activity. During this work, officers stopped a vehicle linked to suspected wildlife crime. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of catapults and ball bearings believed to be intended for use in poaching offences.

Officers will continue to patrol rural locations, act on information provided by the public and work with partner agencies to tackle wildlife crime, disrupt poaching activity and protect the countryside.

Drink/drug driving.

Officers have been carrying out roadside checks and proactive patrols to identify and deter drink-driving and drug-driving offences. These checks include roadside breath tests, drug wipes and field impairment tests, which help officers assess whether a driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Similar checks are also routinely carried out when officers attend road traffic collisions.

As part of this enforcement activity, a man was arrested following reports that a vehicle had been stolen in Ashford. The suspect initially failed to stop for police but was later located and detained following a foot chase. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary, dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs. Following the investigation, he was charged and is due to appear before the courts.

Officers will continue to carry out proactive patrols and enforcement activity to tackle dangerous driving, disrupt criminal activity and improve road safety across the local area.