Watch police raid newsagents in Chatham and Gillingham and find thousands of illegal cigarettes
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Updated: 15:41, 04 March 2021
A hide containing several thousands untaxed cigarettes was found in the yard of a convenience store.
Police raided several shops over two days and seized 123,040 cigarettes and arrested eleven peopled during an operation targetting illicit tobacco sales in Chatham and Gillingham.
Police empty the hide found at Payless Convenience Store in Gillingham
The raids were carried out in partnership with HM Revenue and Customs, Medway Council, the Home Office and Kent Fire and Rescue Service on February 26 and 27.
As well as the cigarettes, 19.8kg of rolling tobacco were also found and nine men, aged between 19 and 42, and two teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit tax evasion.
Police arrest motorists in Medway as part of road safety operation in Chatham and Rochester
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Updated: 13:39, 22 February 2021
Vehicles were seized and arrests made during a police crackdown on motoring offences across the Medway towns.
Officers were on patrol in Chatham and Rochester for a road safety operation which led to two arrests, a further court summons and speeding tickets issued.
Five speeding tickets were issued by police in Rochester and Chatham during the day of action. Picture: Kent Police
The operation held on February 15 across the two towns saw suspects stopped on suspicion of traffic offences and was carried out by Kent Police s Medway Community Safety Unit and the Roads Policing Unit.
Wainscott pub has licence revoked for ignoring Covid-19 rules
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A micropub has lost its licence after it held illegal lock-ins during lockdown.
The Hop and Rye, Wainscott Road, Wainscott, near Strood, allowed people to drink inside the premises on at least five separate occasions in November.
The pub held five illegal lock-ins during November. Picture: Sean Aidan
Licensing officers found six people drinking at the rear of the business during a visit on November 27 and requested they leave.
Following further inquiries, the pub was found to have held at least five lock-ins since November 5.
A hearing was held at Medway Council on December 22 where it was agreed by a licensing panel its licence would be revoked, meaning it must permanently close.