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Medway Labour councillor says police should do more after fireworks turn Chatham street into 'warzone'

By: Ben Austin baustin@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 20:18, 03 January 2023

Updated: 20:42, 03 January 2023

A councillor says police should do more to quell the growing rates of anti-social behaviour following a barrage of fireworks which turned a terraced street into a 'warzone'.

Councillor for Medway Labour, Tristan Osborne, has spoken about the lack of action taken on those setting off fireworks along Luton Road and neighbouring streets in Chatham on New Year's Eve.

Cllr Tristan Osbourne feels more could be done to stop anti-social behaviour in Medway. Picture: Andy Payton

Videos and CCTV footage emerged of people lighting fireworks in the middle of the road, blanketing the area in a sea of flashing lights and clouds of smoke.

Some fireworks seemed to narrowly miss parked cars and exploded dangerously close to people's houses.

Despite this, police have said no arrests have been made nor any fines or cautions given, instead opting only to give advice to people in the area who may or may not have been involved.

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Cllr Osborne said: "It's disappointing to hear no action has been taken as police have the power to deal with anti-social behaviour whether that be through fines or cautionary notices.

"It was a serious situation and did look like a warzone so people would hope for some kind of follow-up.

Man close to fireworks on Luton Road, Chatham
Fireworks were let off dangerously close to buildings in Chatham

"Low-level anti-social behaviour is not being acted upon as it should be in Medway and my concern is that it may create false information.

"By police not acting upon these situations it can be misconstrued that anti-social behaviour doesn't happen, when it couldn't be further from the truth."

In a previous statement Cllr Osborne said anti-social behaviour has surged across Medway with this being the latest example.

In a previous incident on Halloween, Tesco customers and families were 'terrorised' by teens setting off fireworks and aiming them at parked cars and shop windows in Riverview Park in Gravesend.

Cllr Osborne has reached out to the chief inspector of the North Kent Police Division, Robert Marsh, but said he has been unable to make contact with him.

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