In the early hours of Sunday 14 January 2024, a victim reported to officers who were on patrol in Pier Road, that he had been assaulted by a man he did not know and a quantity of cash had been stolen. The constables swiftly arrested a suspect who was taken into custody.  Reece Powell, 36, of Corporation Road, Gillingham was later charged by detectives with robbery and was remanded to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday 15 January.

In a separate incident later the same day, a person was approached by a man he knew in the High Street. It is reported the latter made threats with a craft knife before a phone was stolen. Officers attended the scene where a suspect was arrested. Neil Dunkley, of no fixed address, was later charged by investigators from North Kent CID with robbery, possessing a knife in a public place and threatening a person while in possession of a knife. The 48-year-old was remanded to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 16 January.

Both Mr Powell and Mr Dunkley were conditionally bailed to a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on 13 February.