Latest news with #KentPolice
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
CCTV appeal following two indecent acts in Gravesend cafes
Police have released images of a man they want to speak to in connection with two indecent acts in a coffee Police say a man committed an indecent act in both a Costa Coffee on Gravesend's High Street and a Coffee Republic on New Road on 27 May. A girl also reported she was approached in the same Costa Coffee by a man behaving suspiciously shortly before she left the cafe to meet friends. Officers believe the two incidents are connected and are asking anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image to come forward as he may have relevant information.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Undercover Kent Police officer keeps job despite crash conviction
An undercover officer with Kent Police has kept his job despite being convicted of seriously injuring two people in a car officer, known as Officer A, was convicted last year after crashing his unmarked police car into another vehicle while driving on the A28 at Tenterden on 30 November, 2023.A misconduct hearing on Thursday was told the officer had become distracted while on duty after the cable from his police radio microphone got caught beneath the pedals in his A, who suffered a broken nose and facial injuries in the collision, admitted gross misconduct and was given a final written warning to stay on his record for two years. Officer A's identity has been protected as he still holds an undercover role with Kent 30 October 2024, the officer pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving and was ordered to pay a fine of £1,115, a victim surcharge of £446 and court costs of £ the misconduct hearing in Maidstone, Mark Aldred, representing the officer, said he had always accepted responsibility for his actions. Victims 'support the officer' The hearing was told that despite his own injuries, Officer A tended to the injured driver and injured passenger in the car his vehicle crashed Aldred said some instances of misconduct should be resolved with a final written warning, adding: "If this isn't one of those cases, then it's hard to imagine one that is."The counsel for Kent Police also agreed that the "unique" situation warrants a sanction which falls short of dismissal, while highlighting the officer's "unblemished record".Before giving his verdict, the chairman of the hearing, Chief Constable Tim Smith, said he had "not seen much in the way of remorse" from Officer A, who replied: "I am very aware of the impact that I had on their lives."However, Mr Smith noted that the officer had shown a high degree of professionalism by caring for the people he had injured at the said: "They are unequivocal in their support for the officer and say he was just doing his job."Handing down his decision of a final written warning, Mr Smith accepted that the incident would affect the public perception of the police, as public safety was not went on to say the officer was "highly skilled" and "works day in, day out to protect the public from the most serious form of harm"."I see no use for dismissing Officer A," he concluded.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Swale woman loses house after being scammed out of £100k
A Kent woman said she lost her home after being scammed out of nearly £100,000 in a romance fraud. Sarah, from Swale, was tricked by scammers into believing that she was in a relationship with an American serviceman who told her he needed help with food and medical told the BBC: "I lost my house, I lost my car, my furniture, I lost my self-respect."Kent Police said an investigation was under way, but that no arrests had been made and the missing money had not been traced. A police spokesperson said the woman was first contacted by the scammers in 2022 having recently suffered a several months she grew to trust the scammer, later sending him cash in the form of gift cards when he claimed he was deployed said that he would routinely tell her: "You have to pay me, because I love you."On one particular day, the scammer contacted her to say that his son had died in a car accident and that he needed money to pay the hospital bill. 'Particularly cruel offence' In January this year, the fraudster suggested coming to visit the UK but Sarah declined. "I said no, because technically I've lost £90,000 to you and I can't give you anymore," she said. After finding herself in considerable debt and losing her house, Sarah sought to withdraw from the relationship but was threatened by more fraudsters who said they would release details about her life on the Police added that she was later contacted by another scammer claiming to be from the FBI, who again tricked her out of money. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help is available from BBC Action Line. Det Ch Insp Helen Smithers said: "Romance fraud is a particularly cruel offence because the criminals responsible prey on the emotions of their victims, letting them think they are falling in love when they are actually falling for an elaborate scam."Our best advice is to never send money to someone who you have never met in person or do not completely trust."If you have any doubts about a person's intentions, always speak to a family member or friend for advice because if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is."Kent Police said that romance fraud cost 240 people in the county a total of £3.1m in the past year, with an average of £13,000 per victim.
ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Driver filmed doing doughnuts and driving at high speeds around Isle of Sheppey
Footage found on George Ivers' phone showed him doing doughnut manoeuvres. Credit: Kent Police A driver who was filmed skidding his car and driving at high speeds around the Isle of Sheppey has been jailed. Footage found on George Ivers' phone showed him doing doughnut manoeuvres near the Sheppey Crossing and speeding through the centre of Sheerness. The videos were filmed in late 2021 and early 2022 and were found by detectives investigating a fatal collision involving a cyclist in Lower Road, Teynham in the early hours of 2 May 2022. The cyclist, a 19 year old man, suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene. Work by roads policing officers identified Ivers' VW Polo as the car involved and he was arrested later the same morning. He had driven the heavily-damaged car after the collision, before removing any documents linking him to the vehicle and abandoning it in Sheerness. Ivers, now 22 and formerly of Minster-on-Sea, was not charged in relation to the collision itself, but was charged with dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice after the collision. He was also charged with two counts of dangerous driving in relation to the footage found on his phone. He pleaded guilty to those charges and was jailed for one year and three months. Ivers was also banned from driving for three years and a deprivation order was obtained to seize the vehicle involved. Sergeant Christopher Oliver-Jones said: "Ivers made multiple efforts to mislead and prevent the police from obtaining the evidence they required to fully investigate the fatal road traffic collision. "What's more, the footage found on his phone showed he had driven dangerously on at least two previous occasions, putting others at risk. "As well as securing guilty pleas in relation to his driving, we have obtained a court order seizing his car, and we will continue to seek orders of this kind where vehicles have been driven recklessly. "I urge motorists to take responsibility for their actions whilst behind the wheel and help us prevent fatal accidents like this, which cause devastation to victims and their families."
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Woman ‘repeatedly punched in head before being pushed out of speeding van' as cops launch urgent hunt for driver
A WOMAN was repeatedly punched in the head and pushed out of a moving car by a man, police said. Cops said is only by chance she was not seriously hurt or even killed. 1 The victim was a passenger in a small grey van with a man driving when the ordeal unfolded. Witnesses may have seen it moving "erratically and at high speeds". The woman was left with serious cuts, burns and grazes to her head, face and body. A passing motorist stopped to help her after she was shoved out of the van. The man drove off from the scene following the shocking assault, which happened between 9pm and 9.45pm on Saturday in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Police said the woman and driver knew each other. Cops are asking drivers to check dashcams and locals to check their CCTV to help with the investigation. Detective Constable Tom Bale of Kent Police, who is investigating the assault, said: 'The victim was pushed from the vehicle at speed and it is only by chance she didn't suffer more serious or even fatal injuries. 'The suspect was driving a small grey van which may also have the appearance of a car. It approached Pembury Road from the direction of the High Street and Grove Hill Road and may have been seen moving erratically and at high speeds. 'The suspect currently remains at large and we are urging anyone who may have information and who has not yet spoken to the police to contact us straight away. 'We are also asking drivers to check for important footage they may have on dash cams, along with residents living on the route the vehicle took to check doorbell or CCTV cameras.'
