Police break up house party in Beltinge

Police officers broke up a party in a house in Beltinge near Herne Bay on Saturday night (3 May 2008) due to concerns for the safety of the young people attending and the nuisance caused to the local community.
The party is understood to have been advertised on the internet and attracted an estimated 200 people, some reported to be as young as 12 and some coming from as far afield as Folkestone and Gravesend.
The party was hosted by an 18-year-old man from Herne Bay in an empty house in Coventry Gardens that is understood to belong to the man’s family.
Insp Gordon Etheridge said: “It was clear that there was a large amount of alcohol being consumed, some of it by under 18s. There was no effective adult supervision and the house was becoming dangerously overcrowded when we took the decision to end the party.”
Police received a number of complaints about the noise and it appears that there were two rooms in the house kitted out with music equipment. About 25 officers including those with dogs attended the scene to break up the party.
The crowd was escorted by officers through Beltinge and then dispersed into small groups. There were no arrests.
The police will be meeting with the 18-year-old and his parents to warn against future events and and have extended the warning to the community that raves and house parties that get out of control will not be tolerated.

Driver to hospital after A299 crash

A 30-year-old man was taken to hospital this morning after the van he was driving was in collision with a tractor on the A299 between Whitstable and Herne Bay.
The crash was reported just after 10am and the van driver was initially trapped in his vehicle. He was freed and taken to the QEQM Hospital at Margate. The extent of his injuries is not known but they are not believed to be life threatening.
A diversion was put in place whilst the crash was dealt with and a fuel and oil spillage cleaned from the site a mile after the Chestfield Tunnel on the Margate bound carriageway.
One lane of the road has currently (12 noon) been reopened.

Coffee shop break in

Police called to a report of intruders at Coffee Republic in the Marlowe Arcade, Canterbury, early this morning (6 May 2008) arrested a man on suspicion of burglary.
The 30-year-old man from the Sittingbourne was arrested at 1.30am and is currently in custody being questioned.

Driver to hospital after car overturned

A man was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford after his car overturned on the New Dover Road, Canterbury, near the Gate Inn roundabout last night (5 May 2008).
The man was initially trapped in the car but got out with a cut to his head. It is understood that the injury was not life threatening.

Arrest after car stopped in Herne Bay

A 17-year-old Faversham boy is in custody after a car failed to stop for police officers in Herne Bay early today (6 May 2008).
The car was followed by police in the area of Richmond Street, High Street and Beach Street before it stopped and the driver got out and ran off. The boy was later arrested by in the Memorial Park and is currently in custody being questioned.

Drink drive arrests

Three drivers are due to appear in court on 19 May 2008 after they were arrested and charged with drink driving at the weekend. They are:
Peter Savage (28) of Deansway Avenue, Canterbury, arrested in Market Way, Canterbury, just after midnight on Saturday (3 May 2008).
Roland Mahind (24) of the Broadway, Dudley, arrested in Station Road East, Canterbury, at 2.40am on Sunday (4 May 2008).
Stephen Morris (48) of East Street, Canterbury, arrested in Princes Way, Canterbury at 5.10pm on Saturday (3 May 2008).

Witness appeals

Two digital cameras were taken from a teenage Austrian student as he and a friend walked along the footpath between Sainsbury’s car park and the river off Kingsmead Road.
They were approached by three men aged about 20, one of whom had a bike. They asked for cigarettes and money and when this was refused they searched the boy’s rucksack and took the cameras and some cash.
The incident happened on Monday 28 April 2008 and anyone with information should contact PC Jo Heard on 01227 868267.

Anyone with information about a burglary at Fusion Hair and Beauty in Mortimer Street, Herne Bay, overnight between Friday 25 April  and Saturday 26 April 2008 is urged to contact PC Chris Sherwin on 01227 868265.
Cash and 25 pairs of GHD hair straighteners were taken from the hairdressers.