by Gemma Constable

People throwing water at passing cars in Broadway, Sheerness, were among the individuals arrested on the first day of a police operation.

It was launched last Wednesday and runs until August 31, targeting crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly in Sheerness.

In the first 24 hours, officers made a number of arrests, seized alcohol from people in the town’s alcohol control zone and reunited a 14-year-old boy, who had been reported missing for a few hours, with his mother.

Sheppey Neighbourhood Inspector Dave Applegate said: “The wards of Sheerness East and Sheerness West are experiencing a slight increase in anti-social behaviour and crime than this time last year, so we are focusing more attention on them.”

Officers will be using a range of tactics to reduce crime in the town including covert and foot surveillance, speed enforcement and intelligence-led policing as well as more traditional methods such as high-profile visible patrols both on foot and in marked police cars.

Crime hot spots have been identified and officers intend to send a clear message to law-breakers that criminal activity of any kind will not be tolerated.

Insp Applegate said: “This has been an outstanding start to what we are sure will be a very successful operation, not just in terms of the number of arrests made but in a marked reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour. This in turn will reduce the fear of crime and build public confidence.

“Although Sheerness is a priority throughout August, it will not be at the expense of policing across the rest of the Isle of Sheppey.”

• One person was arrested for being drunk and disorderly in Richmond Street, Sheerness. He is on police bail while investigations continue.
• A man arrested for driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs is also on police bail while samples are sent for analysis.
• Twelve bottles of beer, three cans of cider and two bottles of wine were seized from adults on the sea wall, near Tesco and the Beach Street Park area. All the people the alcohol was seized from were intoxicated and were behaving in an anti-social manner.
• Three people were arrested for causing danger to road users following reports of people throwing large amounts of water from rooftops in Broadway, Sheerness.