Welcome to the Eastry Newsletter for March 2025. 

This month the Dover Neighbourhood Team have been joined by four new probationers. They will be working alongside us for the next 3 months to complete the next chapter of their training. This is a great opportunity for the new recruits to learn about the thread of neighbourhood policing, which is a vital role in supporting the local community. Each new officer will be allocated a tutor, so PC Bowler and I will be joined by PC Burrin over the next few months. Please come and say ‘hello’ when you see us out on patrol. 

I have started to attend the Pantry every other Monday, which is held at the Jubilee Centre, in Sandwich. This a great initiative for people in the community who are struggling to afford food. Members pay £5 and they can select 10 food items. This a fantastic service run by volunteers. I will be attending when I am on duty to offer any support or advice regarding crime and anti-social behaviour. Citizens Advice also have an office at the Jubilee Centre and have advisors there who you can speak to in private.  

On Tuesday 15th April, between 1100 and 1400 hours, I will be attending the Sandwich Spring Community & Volunteering Event. I will have a stall at the event and will be joined by colleagues and other agencies, including Kent Coast Volunteering, Kent Fire & Rescue and Gazing Salts Nature Reserve. Please come to the Guildhall Forecourt to speak to us about volunteering and how you can make a difference in your local community. 

Statistics for Eastry

Between the 1st March and the 31st March there has been 71 calls to the Eastry ward. 

Incidents of note: 

04/03/2025 – Suspicious vehicle - Eastry. Report of a person acting suspiciously around a vehicle. Patrols attended, located the vehicle, and witnessed the person driving. Upon stopping the vehicle, it was determined that the driver was driving whilst unfit through drink and drugs and arrested. Upon searching the driver was also in possession of cannabis. 

10/03/2025 – Theft – Waldershare. Suspects have entered a stable and stolen bridal equipment. 

21/03/2025 – Suspicious Event – Worth. Informant reported seeing a male jump over her fence and ran off around 0100 hours. Patrols attended and area search conducted. 

25/03/2025 – Vehicle interference – Eastry. Informant reporting, person on an e-scooter approached her vehicle, tried the car door handle. Informant saw this, challenged the suspect and they made off. 

Roads Policing 

Last week, we were joined by the Road Safety Unit (RSU) on a joint traffic operation. We spent the day, proactively targeting motorist who are not adhering to the road traffic act. We spent the morning in Dover Town Centre and then spent the afternoon along the A256 and A257 at Sandwich and Wingham. The day resulted in traffic offence reports being issued for the following offences: 

No insurance: 6

Seizures: 3 (1×e-scooter)

Driving otherwise in accordance with a driving license: 1

Failing to wear a seat belt: 5

Using a Mobile phone whilst driving : 2

Tints on vehicle windows: 5

Driving without due care: 1 

Insecure Load: 1

Failing to have a valid MOT test certificate: 4

Parking on a Zigzags near a crossing : 1

Excess Speed: 1

I have also had reports of e-scooters and fully electric bikes being used. E-scooters and fully electric bikes are classed as motor vehicles and are required to be taxed and insured. It is not possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters and fully electric bikes, which means it is illegal to use them in public spaces, including public footpaths, cycle lanes and roads. If stopped by a police officer using these vehicles in such places they will be seized and as a result destroyed. You also risk a £300 fine, six penalty points on your licence for no insurance. 

Crime Prevention Advice 

Protecting premises from being broken into: