A teenager from Manchester has been charged with wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm after a police officer was attacked and left needing hospital treatment.

A patrol in plain clothes approached a man reported to be acting suspiciously in Romney Place, Maidstone, at 1.15pm on Thursday.

The suspect resisted arrest and is alleged to have punched and kicked both officers. He was eventually restrained and taken into custody.

A search was carried out which led to the recovery of a knife and 41 wraps of suspected heroin and crack cocaine.

One of the officers required hospital treatment following the incident but has since been discharged.

Rakeem Williams, 18, of Hodson Road, Swinton, Manchester, was later charged with assault with intent to resist arrest, wounding or inflicting GBH, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Medway Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Kent Police works in partnership with other law enforcement agencies such as British Transport Police and neighbouring forces to detect and disrupt those involved in knife and drug offences.

This latest arrest forms part of ongoing initiative aimed at reducing knife crime and associated offences across the county.

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone