West Downs — Neighbourhood Policing Team

Local policing team in the Kent Police area: contact routes, current priorities and public events.

All Kent Police neighbourhoods

Contact the team

email: csu.swale@kent.police.uk
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kentpolice/
twitter: https://twitter.com/kentpoliceswale

In an emergency always call 999. For non-emergencies call 101 or use Kent Police's online reporting.

Recorded crime — June 2026

15 street-level crimes recorded within this team’s boundary.

Compared with May 2026 (24): ▼ 9 (37%) lower. Recorded-crime counts fluctuate month to month.

Anti-social behaviour4 · 27%
Shoplifting3 · 20%
Violence and sexual offences2 · 13%
Burglary1 · 7%
Criminal damage and arson1 · 7%
Other theft1 · 7%
Public order1 · 7%
Vehicle crime1 · 7%

Street-level open data from data.police.uk (Open Government Licence v3.0), counted within this team’s official boundary. Locations on data.police.uk are approximate — snapped to anonymised map points near where each crime occurred — so figures are a guide, not an exact address-level count. Captured 2026-08-08.

What happened to reported crimes — June 2026

29 recorded outcomes logged within this team’s boundary.

Awaiting court outcome19 · 66%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified8 · 28%
Action to be taken by another organisation1 · 3%
Unable to prosecute suspect1 · 3%

Recorded outcomes from data.police.uk (Open Government Licence v3.0). A crime and its outcome can fall in different months, so these do not map one-to-one onto the crime counts above. Captured 2026-08-09.

Current priorities

Fly tipping.

We have carried out patrols in known fly-tipping hotspot locations and worked closely with partner agencies to identify offenders and support enforcement action. Information sharing and joint working have helped target problem areas and ensure reports are dealt with appropriately. We will continue to focus on both enforcement and prevention, working with local partners and responding to information from the community to tackle fly-tipping and protect the local environment.

Set: 2026-04-13

Highway obstructions.

We have increased patrols in identified areas and taken action to address inconsiderate or obstructive parking through advice, warnings and enforcement where appropriate. Officers continue to work closely with the local authority to identify problem locations and resolve ongoing concerns. This partnership approach helps improve road safety, maintain access for residents and emergency services, and ensure roads remain clear and safe for all users. We will continue to monitor the situation and take action where necessary.

Set: 2026-04-13

Road safety issues.

Following reports of off-road bikes causing damage and distress, officers carried out enquiries and, with the support of information provided by the community, identified an offender. As a result, an uninsured motorcycle was seized and a Section 59 warning was issued. A Section 59 warning is a legal warning that can be given when a vehicle is used in a manner that causes alarm, distress or annoyance to others. If the warning is breached within 12 months, the vehicle can be seized by police. The seized vehicle will be destroyed, demonstrating our commitment to tackling illegal and antisocial vehicle use. Officers will continue to act on information from residents and carry out targeted enforcement activity to improve road safety and address concerns raised by the community.

Set: 2026-04-13