A MEDWAY Council employee was arrested after being accused of assault by youths he had escorted from a council building the previous day.

The man, who cannot be named, was questioned by police after he removed seven teenagers from the reception area of the Municipal Buildings in Canterbury Street, Gillingham on Wednesday afternoon.

He had been called in by a female member of staff who claimed she was being harassed. Medway Police arrested the man at his home on Thursday morning.

The leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat group Cllr Geoff Juby said: "We’ve been pressing for five years for safety and security measures to be introduced at the Municipal Buildings.

"Anti-social behaviour, vandalism, drug-taking and crime has rocketed in Gillingham. On one occasion CCTV cameras picked up a youth brandishing a gun at the entrance to the building."

A spokesperson for Medway Police said: "Kent Police received calls from two people, both male, each of whom reported being assaulted at the Municipal Buildings in Gillingham.

"As a result of our inquiries a local man was arrested. He has been released from custody and granted police bail while investigations continue."

A spokesperson for Medway Council said: "Medway Council is extremely concerned about this incident. The matter is now in the hands of the police so we are unable to comment on specific actions or events.

"However, the security of our customers and our staff who use the Municipal Buildings remains of paramount importance."