Arrests and interventions made in Medway night time economy operation

Three suspected drug dealers were arrested during an operation to tackle night time economy crime in Medway.

Taking place on the evening of Friday 9 October 2026, uniformed and plain clothes officers took to the streets of Chatham, Gillingham and Rochester to identify any offences and signs of potential violence against women and girls (VAWG).

On one occasion in Rochester, officers observed a man urinating in a car park and later talking to women sitting on a bench in the high street. The man transpired to be a registered sex offender and he was removed from the high street, with the women supported following the interaction.

Arrests

He was one of 11 people searched that evening, with another three taking place in The Terrace, Rochester. At around 10.50pm, a patrol spotted people smoking cannabis in a vehicle and subsequently searched them.

Uncovering a small amount of cannabis, deal bags and more than £800 in cash, a further search of the vehicle revealed more of the class B drug and a quantity of cocaine.

The car’s three occupants, 25 and 26 year old women from Rochester and a 25 year old man from Gillingham, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.  They were released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.

Detective Inspector Aaron Watkin said:

‘Combating VAWG and other offences related to the night time economy is an incredibly important part of our work. ‘Medway has a thriving night life that attracts people from all over. Through efforts such as this, we can ensure locals and visitors alike can continue to enjoy themselves in safety and comfort. ‘The success of this evening was very encouraging and we look forward to rolling out operations such as this on a more regular basis.’