Kitchen knives have been seized from a woman stopped and searched in a town centre.

Foot patrols attended a number of locations in Maidstone on Tuesday, as part of an ongoing initiative to tackle knife crime and associated offences.

At around 4pm officers had cause to stop and search a woman in Brenchley Gardens. Two knives were located and confiscated.

Katherine Banks, aged 50, of Regent Close, Maidstone, was arrested and charged with possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place. She has been bailed to appear before Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on May 24.

Kent Police takes a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime and those associated with it and this latest arrest forms part of an ongoing crackdown on knife crime across the county, including associated offences, such as supplying drugs.

Maidstone Chief Inspector Ray Quiller said: ‘We aim to ensure that Maidstone remains a fantastic and safe place to live, work and visit.

"Our actions are making it increasingly difficult for criminals to operate in this town and we are continuing to take robust and proactive action to target anyone who thinks that carrying a knife or a weapon for whatever reason is acceptable.

"Kent Police remains committed to tackling knife crime culture across the whole county and we have a number of measures in place, including the use of dedicated patrols, to support our efforts to combat and deter serious violence and knife crime.’