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Police in Herne Bay have stepped up patrols and implemented a dispersal order over the weekend in a concentrated effort to combat antisocial behaviour following a surge in public disorder concerns.
The initiative, which began on Saturday, June 14, 2025, saw officers actively engaging with the public and carrying out targeted interventions. In areas including Kings Road, Dering Road, and the High Street, seven individuals were stopped and searched. Six of these individuals were found to be in possession of cannabis and subsequently received a community resolution.
In a separate incident, an off-duty officer spotted a stolen motorbike near Chapel Row. Investigations revealed the vehicle had been stolen last month from a property in Sittingbourne. Enquiries are currently ongoing to locate the suspect responsible for the theft.
Furthermore, three youths in Memorial Park were issued with dispersal notices after they were discovered smoking cannabis in a public area, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address drug-related antisocial behaviour.
The crackdown continued into Monday, June 16, 2025. A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting, criminal damage, and the theft of a motor vehicle from a supermarket in Kings Road. He has since been released on bail as enquiries into the incidents continue. Later that same evening, a 15-year-old boy was arrested in the High Street on suspicion of multiple offences, including drug possession and theft of a motor vehicle. He has also been bailed pending further investigation.
Chief Inspector Paul Stoner said:
‘We are committed to ensuring residents and visitors feel safe and confident when out and about and we will not tolerate intimidating or nuisance behaviour.
‘While it is normally a minority responsible for antisocial behaviour, nevertheless it is not acceptable, and we will continue to use all tools at our disposal.
‘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.’