Weald South

Your Neighbourhood Policing Team is made up of Kent Police beat officers who are dedicated to keeping your community safe. They focus on preventing crime and antisocial behaviour, responding to local concerns, and building strong relationships with residents, community groups and local businesses.

Our officers will:

patrol to deter crime and reassure the public
hold regular engagement activities in the area, including attending community meetings to share advice and listen to concerns
work with partner agencies including councils, schools, charities, and local groups
tackle issues like antisocial behaviour, repeat offending, and vulnerability
build trust by being visible, approachable, and responsive

Neighbourhood policing is a key part of Kent Police’s commitment to being community-focused, visible, and responsive.

Report crime

Please do not contact neighbourhood officers to report crime.

If it's not an emergency, the easiest way to contact us is online. Your report will be sent direct to our control room where it will be reviewed by the same team who answer our calls.

in an emergency, call 999
call 101 for non-emergency enquiries

Weald South Local Policing Team

Stuart Picton

Police constable

Local Priority Issues

Priority	Action taken
Wildlife crime issues. Issued 17 July 2026	This is a priority for the next 3 months. We have identified this based on feedback from local residents, crime data, and ongoing concerns in the area. We’ll publish an update in the coming months to let you know what we’ve done, what progress has been made, and what’s next. Actioned 17 July 2026
Farm equipment theft. Issued 17 July 2026	This is a priority for the next 3 months. We have identified this based on feedback from local residents, crime data, and ongoing concerns in the area. We’ll publish an update in the coming months to let you know what we’ve done, what progress has been made, and what’s next. Actioned 17 July 2026
Antisocial behaviour - nuisance. Issued 17 July 2026	This is a priority for the next 3 months. We have identified this based on feedback from local residents, crime data, and ongoing concerns in the area. We’ll publish an update in the coming months to let you know what we’ve done, what progress has been made, and what’s next. Actioned 17 July 2026
Road safety issues. Issued 14 April 2026	Neighbourhood Officers have carried out targeted speed checks and vehicle enforcement activity in key hotspot locations where residents have raised concerns about speeding and road safety, including Ashford Road, Hamstreet, Kingsnorth and Shadoxhurst. During this activity, one driver on Hamstreet Road was issued with a Section 59 warning for the antisocial use of a vehicle. A Section 59 warning is a legal warning that can be issued when a vehicle is used in a manner that causes alarm, distress or annoyance to others. If the same driver or vehicle is involved in further antisocial use within 12 months, police have the power to seize the vehicle. Officers also identified a number of other offences during proactive patrols. A HGV driver in Sevington Lorry Park was reported for driving otherwise than in accordance with their driving licence. A van linked to rogue trading and displaying cloned registration plates was located in Hamstreet and seized, while enquiries into suspected fraud offences remain ongoing. A routine roadside check also led to the recovery of approximately £20,000 in cash and several thousand pounds worth of suspected illegal tobacco products. Investigations into this matter are continuing. In a separate incident, a vehicle failed to stop for officers and was later located after being abandoned in a rural area. Enquiries revealed the vehicle had no valid insurance or vehicle tax, and a significant quantity of suspected stolen copper piping was recovered from inside. This proactive enforcement activity helps improve road safety, disrupt criminal activity and address concerns raised by the local community. Officers will continue to carry out targeted patrols and take action against those who commit offences on our roads. Actioned 30 June 2026
Wildlife crime issues. Issued 14 April 2026	Officers have continued to carry out high-visibility and proactive patrols in areas affected by poaching, using intelligence and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify, target and disrupt known offenders. ANPR uses cameras to automatically read vehicle registration numbers and can help officers identify vehicles linked to crime or other concerns. Neighbourhood officers are also working closely with the Rural Task Force and are actively involved in FarmWatch, a partnership scheme that brings together farmers, landowners, rural businesses and police to share information about crime and suspicious activity in rural areas. This helps officers develop intelligence, respond quickly to emerging concerns and provide effective crime prevention support to the rural community. Targeted patrols have been carried out along the Royal Military Canal in Ruckinge following reports of illegal poaching activity. During this work, officers stopped a vehicle linked to suspected wildlife crime. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of catapults and ball bearings believed to be intended for use in poaching offences. Officers will continue to patrol rural locations, act on information provided by the public and work with partner agencies to tackle poaching and wildlife crime, helping to protect local wildlife, farmland and the wider countryside. Actioned 30 June 2026
Drink/drug driving. Issued 14 April 2026	Officers have been carrying out roadside checks and proactive patrols to identify and deter drink-driving and drug-driving offences. These checks include roadside breath tests, drug wipes and field impairment tests, which help officers assess whether a driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Similar checks are also routinely carried out following road traffic collisions and during targeted enforcement activity. As part of this work, a man was arrested after reports that a vehicle had been stolen in Ashford. The suspect initially failed to stop for police but was later located and detained following a foot chase. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary, dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs. Following the investigation, he was charged and is due to appear before the courts. Officers will continue to carry out proactive patrols and enforcement activity to tackle dangerous driving, disrupt criminal activity and improve road safety across the local area. Actioned 30 June 2026

Priority

Action taken

Wildlife crime issues.

Issued 17 July 2026

This is a priority for the next 3 months. We have identified this based on feedback from local residents, crime data, and ongoing concerns in the area.

We’ll publish an update in the coming months to let you know what we’ve done, what progress has been made, and what’s next.

Actioned 17 July 2026

Farm equipment theft.

Issued 17 July 2026

Actioned 17 July 2026

Antisocial behaviour - nuisance.

Issued 17 July 2026

Actioned 17 July 2026

Road safety issues.

Issued 14 April 2026

Neighbourhood Officers have carried out targeted speed checks and vehicle enforcement activity in key hotspot locations where residents have raised concerns about speeding and road safety, including Ashford Road, Hamstreet, Kingsnorth and Shadoxhurst.

During this activity, one driver on Hamstreet Road was issued with a Section 59 warning for the antisocial use of a vehicle. A Section 59 warning is a legal warning that can be issued when a vehicle is used in a manner that causes alarm, distress or annoyance to others. If the same driver or vehicle is involved in further antisocial use within 12 months, police have the power to seize the vehicle.

Officers also identified a number of other offences during proactive patrols. A HGV driver in Sevington Lorry Park was reported for driving otherwise than in accordance with their driving licence. A van linked to rogue trading and displaying cloned registration plates was located in Hamstreet and seized, while enquiries into suspected fraud offences remain ongoing.

A routine roadside check also led to the recovery of approximately £20,000 in cash and several thousand pounds worth of suspected illegal tobacco products. Investigations into this matter are continuing.

In a separate incident, a vehicle failed to stop for officers and was later located after being abandoned in a rural area. Enquiries revealed the vehicle had no valid insurance or vehicle tax, and a significant quantity of suspected stolen copper piping was recovered from inside.

This proactive enforcement activity helps improve road safety, disrupt criminal activity and address concerns raised by the local community. Officers will continue to carry out targeted patrols and take action against those who commit offences on our roads.

Actioned 30 June 2026

Wildlife crime issues.

Issued 14 April 2026

Officers have continued to carry out high-visibility and proactive patrols in areas affected by poaching, using intelligence and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify, target and disrupt known offenders. ANPR uses cameras to automatically read vehicle registration numbers and can help officers identify vehicles linked to crime or other concerns.

Neighbourhood officers are also working closely with the Rural Task Force and are actively involved in FarmWatch, a partnership scheme that brings together farmers, landowners, rural businesses and police to share information about crime and suspicious activity in rural areas. This helps officers develop intelligence, respond quickly to emerging concerns and provide effective crime prevention support to the rural community.

Targeted patrols have been carried out along the Royal Military Canal in Ruckinge following reports of illegal poaching activity. During this work, officers stopped a vehicle linked to suspected wildlife crime. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of catapults and ball bearings believed to be intended for use in poaching offences.

Officers will continue to patrol rural locations, act on information provided by the public and work with partner agencies to tackle poaching and wildlife crime, helping to protect local wildlife, farmland and the wider countryside.

Actioned 30 June 2026

Drink/drug driving.

Issued 14 April 2026

Officers have been carrying out roadside checks and proactive patrols to identify and deter drink-driving and drug-driving offences. These checks include roadside breath tests, drug wipes and field impairment tests, which help officers assess whether a driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Similar checks are also routinely carried out following road traffic collisions and during targeted enforcement activity.

As part of this work, a man was arrested after reports that a vehicle had been stolen in Ashford. The suspect initially failed to stop for police but was later located and detained following a foot chase. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary, dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs. Following the investigation, he was charged and is due to appear before the courts.

Officers will continue to carry out proactive patrols and enforcement activity to tackle dangerous driving, disrupt criminal activity and improve road safety across the local area.

Actioned 30 June 2026