A Medway woman has been fined after making a false allegation of robbery.

The 35-year-old, who has not been named, claimed that £190 was stolen from her as she walked along Skinner Street, Gillingham, on July 15.

She alleged a man had threatened her with a knife and she even gave a description of him to police.

The crime was allocated to a team of officers who are responsible for investigating robbery offences in the Towns.

A man was arrested but after detectives soon suspected the woman had made up the claim. She was later charged with wasting police time.

She admitted the offence and was fined £80.

The action is a result of an initiative in which the team of officers work exclusively to solve robbery offences.

Det Sgt Ollie Tingley, who heads up the team, said: “We want to ensure that every genuine victim of robbery receives the best level of service possible from the police.

“When we are tied up investigating false-allegations it has an impact on the amount of time we are able to commit to legitimate robbery victims.

Police have had to deal with several cases in which people have made false allegations of robbery.

Recently one man was given a suspended sentence for wasting police time. The alleged victim even stabbed himself in an effort to prove his robbery claim.

In another case a man in his thirties was given an £80 fine after admitting making a false allegation to police.