Antisocial behaviour - general.

Issued 15 October 2025

Officers have identified repeat antisocial behaviour through reports from the community. Most of this involved groups of young people in and around the Howe Barracks estate. The behaviour included trespassing in abandoned areas, kicking residents’ doors, and drug use.

Regular high‑visibility patrols have been carried out. Officers have spoken with groups of young people when they have seen them, and drug users near a local park have been located, dealt with, and moved away from the area.

We are also working closely with the owners of local sites, including Taylor Wimpey, to make sure abandoned buildings are secured as much as possible to prevent further trespass or damage. Reports of fires in derelict buildings have been raised at the Partnership Derelict Buildings Forum so that all agencies are aware and can take proactive steps to protect these properties.

Actioned 19 January 2026

Road safety issues.

Issued 15 October 2025

Road‑safety concerns reported over the past three months include speeding on Littlebourne Road and Stodmarsh Road, misuse of the farm road at the end of Spring Lane, misuse of the private road along Pilgrims Way, and poor parking, speeding, and ignoring road signs during school pick‑up and drop‑off times outside Pilgrims Way Primary School.

Officers have regularly carried out speed checks on Stodmarsh Road and Littlebourne Road. Community Speedwatch letters have been sent to drivers found speeding, and motorists seen using roads incorrectly have been spoken to and educated.

Officers also make regular visits to Pilgrims Way Primary School. They enforce against those who park on zig‑zag lines and are present to deal with any incidents that arise. Officers have also worked with the Child‑Centred Policing Team to support Mini Cadets sessions, where children learned about road safety and created paper parking tickets to give to drivers parking unsafely.

Actioned 19 January 2026

E-scooters/nuisance motorcycles.

Issued 15 October 2025

These issues relate to nuisance off‑road motorbikes, electric bikes, and electric scooters, mainly around the Old Howe Barracks area and Chequers Woods. This is a persistent problem that requires ongoing attention.

PCSO Meek has been in contact with the Ministry of Defence over the past two months to encourage them to secure the woodland they own, helping to prevent easy access for those using motorbikes illegally. This work is continuing.

Officers from the Community Safety Unit have also carried out an operation using both marked and unmarked police vehicles to target people misusing the roads with unregistered motorbikes. Those identified have been visited and given clear advice about the consequences if the behaviour continues. In one case, the parent of a child using such a bike was given a Community Protection Warning, requiring them to stop allowing their child to use the vehicle unlawfully. This approach has been effective and will continue.

Actioned 19 January 2026