Arrests after night of yob attacks
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The aftermath at Lloyds
TSB in Gillingham
by KM reporters
Police were inundated with hoax calls last night as rumours of
yob attacks in Kent spread like wildfire on the internet.
Facebook and Twitter were awash with reports of flare-ups
that never happened including fires and looting at
Westwood Cross and violence in
Gravesend.
In one bizarre hoax call, a terrified member of the
public in Deal reported seeing a 100-strong crowd
of teenagers.
When police turned up they found two youngsters buying food
at a local takeaway and using a cash machine.
"The people of Kent have shown they neither want nor support thuggery and violence in any form…” – Alan Pughsley
Officers - and reporters from KentOnline - tried to quash
the rumours but they continued to spread.
There was a 43 per cent increase in inaccurate crime reports as
almost 1,000 calls were made to the force control room between 6pm
last night and 6am this morning.
That compares to 700 the same period last week.
The majority of calls were from people concerned about small
groups of young people congregating.
Some calls reported rumours people had seen on Twitter and
Facebook and other calls were about suspicious people.
In one example a call saying 40 to 50 youths had left a
train at Chatham railway station and were heading
for the town, when rail staff confirmed no large groups had been on
the train and none could be located in the area.
Police did thank the people of Kent for helping snuff out
the yob violence that sparked in Medway and
Dartford - but appealed for the hoax crime reports
to stop.
Overall, the county was nearly all quiet last night as no
major incidents related to the attacks that marred Monday
night kicked off.
What crime there was was quickly stamped out.
Early this morning six London men who travelled into the county
by car were arrested for going equipped for burglary in
Sevenoaks.
Small groups were also dispersed in Gravesend
and Chatham and five were arrested in Gravesend
for minor criminal damage.
Three of the 11 people arrested following the previous night's
incidents have been released on bail. Eight remain in custody.
Officers have no intelligence to suggest there will be
further disorder, but the will continue to monitor the
transport networks.
Patrols will continue to prevent and disrupt
criminalty.
Kent Police is appealing for people to continue to help by
reporting accurate information.
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Pughsley said: "I'd like to thank
the people of Kent and Medway for their messages of support, and
for the information they've given us.
"The plans we put in place last night worked very well, and we
will be working hard to make sure it stays that way.
"We will continue to take a zero tolerance approach, we will
support all lawful activities, but will swiftly challenge any hint
of disorder.
"We sent a very clear message to anyone trying to come to Kent
to attack our community to stay away or face the consequences.
"The people of Kent have shown they neither want nor support
thuggery and violence in any form, and we thank them for their
support last night in keeping the streets calm and peaceful, so
businesses could trade normally and people could go about
unmolested.
"We will continue to have extra officers on duty across Kent and
Medway."
Officers revealed yesterday that two teenagers were
arrested in Kent for allegedly using Facebook and
Twitter to incite a riot.
Officers swooped on the 18-year-olds from
Folkestone following concerns about postings on
the social network sites.
The pair, a boy and girl, were taken into custody at Folkestone
Harbour at around 1.30pm and are currently being quizzed.
Police also revealed the number of suspects arrested in
connection with violence in Medway rose to 11.
Guards were stationed at shopping centres and
garages across Kent are refusing to sell fuel in cans as
police try to prevent a repeat of the attacks.
Notices went up at petrol stations around the
county advising customers that fuel will only be sold to
motorists.
It is thought police feared it could be used in petrol
bombs should violence spark in Kent again.
At Bluewater shopping centre in Greenhithe
extra officers were also drafted in to ward off trouble.
"It doesn't help the police if they have people standing by and watching…” – Tracey Crouch MP
In a statement, a spokeswoman for the shopping
centre said: "Bluewater remains open for business as
usual.
"The safety and security of our guests and hosts remains our
priority and we will continue to work alongside Kent police and act
on their advice.
"Due to recent events, Bluewater can confirm an increased police
presence has been put in place on site."
Earlier terrified residents told KentOnline about the
moment violence flared across Kent.
Police and fire crews dealt with a series of yob attacks in
Rainham, Dartford, Chatham and Gillingham following the widespread
riots that engulfed London.
Around 15 young men, who are believed to have travelled
to Medway by train, caused damage by setting
several fires.
Officers have now arrested 11 men in connection with the
violence who are currently being held at Medway police
station.
Violence also sparked in Dartford as
vandals tried to torch a community centre.
In New Street, Chatham, a terrified resident
saw what he described as a Ford Focus set alight.
The man, who did not want to be named, said: "There was a group
of youths and a big commotion.
"I heard the glass go from the windows then they took the
handbrake off.
"It rolled and crashed straight into my son's van. He's not
happy.
"The police were here in about 15 minutes. They took the car
away on a low loader 'for forensics' but I don't know what
forensics they'll get from a brick.
"They're all just getting on the bandwagon. I think
this is down to ineffective policing."
Ten firefighters were called to
Dartford's Tree Estate Community Centre in Cedar Road at
10.30pm.
Firefighters were alerted by a member of the public who
said vandals poured petrol over the front door.
Although the building was set on fire, firefighters said the
centre was strong enough to withstand the flames.
Kent Police maintained a presence at the centre throughout the
evening.
Watch manager Lee Abel said: "We just want to reiterate the
words of the government, to keep an eye on your children and know
where they are.
"There are gangs of youths that are making the most of the
opportunites that have arised over the vandalism."
Mr Abel also called for communities to be vigilant in wake of
the attack.
The first incident in Medway was reported at 8.30pm in
Gillingham High Street which saw the men involved
in confrontations with police officers.
The car fires in New Street, Chatham, were started shortly
before 1am, followed by another in the Wickes car park in
Maidstone Road, Chatham, at 1.07am.
A third car fire in the Chatham Tesco multi-storey car park
at Eldon Street at 1.29am.
A van hit by a
torced car last night in New Street, Chatham
Almost an hour later, at 2.20am, fire crews
dealt with a small rubbish blaze in a shelter at Rainham High
Street, Rainham, before tackling a number of
bin fires in Gillingham High Street at 2.34am.
Officers also dealt with numerous incidents of criminal damage
to cars.
A police spokesman said "significant police
resources" had been sent to the area. There have been no
further incidents reported.
"Thankfully, no-one was injured in any of the
incidents. An investigation is now underway to identify all those
involved."
Police have appealed for any information
about the incidents and those responsible for them.
Chatham MP Tracey Crouch said: "Last night,
about 15 kids came down from London intent on causing damage.
"They managed to set a few cars on fire in Chatham and there was
some minor damage to buildings, but nothing was stolen.
"There were no riots in Chatham last night - there was some
mindless thuggery. These are clearly minor disturbances."
Miss Crouch, who is keeping in regular contact with Kent Police
Chief Constable Ian Learmonth, is due to meet Chatham traders at
lunchtime.
She added: "This evening we need to be prepared and one of the
things the community can do is make sure their kids are inside.
"It doesn't help the police if they have people standing by and
watching.
"A lot of people are going to be very scared about what they are
seeing in London and these feelings are going to be felt in towns
across the country."
Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti said:
"My understanding is it was a small group who have come in from
outside of Medway to cause trouble and I know that the police have
been dealing with it effectively.
My view
by Alan McGuinness
The first thing that struck me as I walked down Gillingham High Street this morning was the overpowering smell of burnt rubber.
Shops were beginning to open and people were spotting the damage and taking in what had happened overnight.
The front window of Lloyds TSB was cracked and blackened and there was rubbish strewn outside. A large blue wheelie bin was also burnt out on one of the side roads.
A clean-up operation quickly swung into force and you could hear the loud whirr of a cleaning vehicle as it went to work. Within half an hour of my arrival, the rubbish was gone.
Many of the people I spoke to hadn’t heard what happened. As I described what I knew, they were shocked that the trouble seen in London had come to Medway - and many feared if it might get worse.
"I think it is important to note that this is not a result of
residents of Medway - it is a small group of people who have come
into Medway.
"The people in Medway are great people and they are not
responsible.
"I have lived in Medway for years and it is a community here and
we will pull together."
Kent Police have revealed between 25 and 50 officers are being
sent to London on a 24-hour basis to help the Met deal with
disorder on the capital's streets.
Officers' leave hasn't been cancelled - but the force is
monitoring the situation on a daily basis.
Deputy Chief Constable Alan
Pughsley condemned also the violence in Kent.
He said: "These were mindless acts of
vandalism, committed by a small minority, who have travelled to the
area, intent on causing damage.
"I would state in the strongest terms
that these acts of aggression will not be tolerated by Kent
Police.
"Their aim was to try and create
chaos, and they failed in that, thanks to swift and robust police
action.
"By deploying considerable resources
to the Medway area we swiftly managed to contain the incidents and
have arrested significant numbers of people in connection with the
criminal damage.
"Thankfully, no one was injured, but
this has caused serious damage to innocent residents’
property."
"What now follows is a dedicated
investigation to find each of the individuals responsible and bring
them to justice.
"Preparations are also underway for
any further outbreaks of violence and we will be monitoring the
transport networks and streets to ensure further disruption or
criminality is contained."
"Kent Police has a zero tolerance
approach to criminality of any kind, and as these thugs have found
out, we take decisive action against those who want to attack the
community in Kent."
The violence in Kent followed
outbreaks of disorder across London last night which spread to
Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol.
Prime Minister David Cameron today revealed Parliament will be
called back from its break to discuss how the violence should be
tackled.
In response, North Thanet MP Roger Gale said he
would welcome the use of water cannons in Britain if needed to
disperse the yobs.
He said: "It is absolutely right that Parliament should
have the opportunity to hear from the Prime Minister and to
question the action that is being taken and the facilities that are
being made available to enforce the law, to restore order and to
bring to conviction and sentence those that are responsible.
"Not one of us is immune from the effects of these acts of
violence and vandalism - those that have not been directly
damaged today may, unless appropriate action is taken, be damaged
tonight or tomorrow.
"In expressing sympathy with those that have suffered injury and
loss and damage I think that we have also to condemn those -
including some media commentators - who have sought to make
political capital out of these riots and to somehow excuse the
perpetrators as the victims of 'cuts' or 'deprivation'.
"What we have all seen reported on television is straightforward
vandalism, theft, criminality and brute violence and it cannot be
excused or apologised for in any way at all.
"The robust line taken by the Home Secretary and by the Prime
Minister upon his return to the United Kingdom this morning
indicate, I think, how very seriously the authorities are taking
these matters and I would hope and expect that every measure -
up to and including the use of water cannon and, if necessary, the
armed forces - is deployed to protect people and property,
nationwide, from further injury and damage.
"In paying tribute to the constabulary - who have certainly
been stretched to the limit by unpredicted and unanticipated events
over the last 48 hours - we also have to call upon the decent
people of every community in the country to deny any comfdort,
protection or safe haven to anyone at all who has participated in,
or is planning to participate in, further riots."
Rochester and Strood MP Mark
Reckless said: "I unreservedly condemn the violence and
I'm trying to find out whether it was correct that it was people
coming in from London or if there was any local involvement.
"We just need to track down the
individuals responsible and ensure they are dealt with.
"I've been taken by surprise by the
trouble and the speed with which it broke out."
Kent Police Authority chairman Ann Barnes said:
"This mindless vandalism and arson is not acceptable in Kent.
"I am in constant contact with the Chief Constable and Deputy
Chief Constable and feel very reassured by how the force has
responded to last night's incidents.
"I want to stress that it is not the people of Kent causing this
damage but outsiders whose primary aim is to cause trouble.
"I was horrified by the scenes in London and parents all across
the country tonight need to know where their children are and what
they are doing.
"As I watched events unfold in London yesterday, I had
particular interest in the rioting in Hackney. I have close family
living there and know the place well.
"The borough has always had a vibrancy and confidence about it,
so it was heartbreaking to see these young people ruining their own
community.
"However, please be confident that the Chief Constable and his
team will make sure that the scenes in the London boroughs are not
played out here in Kent.
"Whilst there is always a place for sensitive policing of
peaceful protest, these events are neither peaceful nor a protest
but just acts of total disregard for other people's property,
livelihoods, and safety.
"The Chief Constable has my 100 per cent support to use all
appropriate and proportionate methods of policing to keep the
people, the businesses and the communities of the county safe."
Traders count the cost of
last night's violence
Medway Council leader Rodney
Chambers said: "It is extremely regrettable that a
small number of people traveled from outside of the Medway area
into Chatham and Gillingham last night to carry out mindless acts
of vandalism.
"Our colleagues in Kent Police deployed considerable resources
and swiftly contained the incidents, which I understand involved 15
people who traveled here by train.
"No one was injured, but damage was caused to three cars and a
number of bins.
"I would like to thank the police for their swift action, which
has so far led to the arrest of 10 of these people.
"Kent Police also say they are confident that they will catch
the others involved.
"We do not expect this kind of criminal activity in an area like
Medway, and while it is on a much smaller scale than the events
that have taken place in London over the past few days, it is
traumatic and upsetting to the innocent people who have seen their
property damaged.
"The council is in constant contact with the police and we are
working jointly to clean up the damage caused.
"We shall, of course, continue to assist the police in whatever
way we can to make sure the community of Medway is safe and
protected from this criminal activity.
"I am sure that all residents across Medway will join me in
deploring the actions of these people who have carried out these
acts of senseless vandalism."
Officers are urging members of
the public to contact them on 01622 690 690 or Crimestoppers on
0800 555 111.
Did you see what happened? Send your
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Tuesday, August 09 2011
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