A high-stakes foot chase across the multi-level car park punctuated a day of intense traffic enforcement in Folkestone, culminating in three arrests and a flurry of traffic offence reports.
On Friday, March 21st, 2025, Kent Police, alongside the Kent Special Constabulary and Folkestone and Hythe District Council, conducted a targeted operation aimed at clamping down on road-related criminality. Patrols focused on Park Farm, Middleburg Square, Tontine Street, and surrounding areas, yielding significant results.
The drama unfolded when a vehicle was reportedly spotted driving against the flow of traffic on a one-way street. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled, initiating a pursuit that spanned two levels of the multi-storey car park. In a swift and decisive action, a pursuing officer apprehended the 43-year-old man, who was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drug driving and various traffic offences.
This arrest was one of three made during the operation. A 33-year-old man was apprehended in Middleburg Square, and a 48-year-old man was detained on Cheriton Road, both on suspicion of drug driving. All three men have since been released on bail pending further investigation.
Beyond the arrests, the operation resulted in a staggering 26 traffic offence reports. Seven individuals were cited for failing to wear seatbelts, and five were caught using mobile phones while driving. Other offences included illegal window tints, defective lights, unsafe loads, non-compliant tyres, and an exhaust violation on a motorcycle.
Officers also addressed issues related to vehicle documentation, with several drivers cited for lacking valid MOT certificates. Two vehicles were seized after drivers were found to be uninsured. Four penalty notices were issued, and officers provided road safety advice to over 30 individuals.
Folkestone and Hythe District Council officers contributed to the operation by focusing on taxi licensing and waste carrier licence compliance.
PC Kevin Marsh said:
‘The focus of our operation was to tackle those who are more likely to cause problems on the roads around Folkestone. Anyone who gets behind the wheel without the correct driving licence, or insurance, or who has not maintained their vehicle to a roadworthy standard, can all become a risk to others on the road.
‘Working with teams, such as the Road Safety Unit and our partner agencies, meant that we were able to cover a wide range of potential offending and disrupt criminality from taking place. We hope this work reminds people about the importance of road safety.’