A suspected thief who allegedly assaulted an off-duty police officer in Whitstable has been arrested following a dramatic pursuit that ended near the M2 motorway.
The incident began on the afternoon of Monday, October 27, 2025, when an off-duty police constable noticed suspicious activity near the M&S Foodhall on Prospect Way Whitstable. The officer observed a man allegedly loading a large quantity of meat products from a shopping trolley directly into a waiting car. When the officer approached the man about his behaviour, an altercation broke out and during the incident, the officer was reportedly assaulted. The suspect then fled the scene in the car.
Patrols were immediately alerted and quickly located the vehicle, which was reportedly being driven in a dangerous manner. Officers followed the car as it sped onto the A249 near Detling. A brief police pursuit followed before the driver abandoned the vehicle on foot near Junction 5 of the M2 at Sittingbourne. The man was quickly detained and arrested shortly afterwards. The 29-year-old is now in custody, arrested on suspicion of theft, assault on an emergency worker, and several driving offences.