Gravesend police chief says people should visit town centre after St George's CoE School and Gravesend Grammar School heads tell pupils to 'avoid' area
14:38, 21 July 2021
updated: 16:12, 21 July 2021
A senior police officer says people can continue to enjoy a town centre despite head teachers warning pupils to avoid the area amid several recent violent incidents.
Schools issued the advice to children and parents about Gravesend town centre but a Kent Police chief says the message "has not come from the force" and encouraged people to visit.
Supt Neil Loudon, the deputy divisional commander for North Kent, said police are aware of the letters sent home by schools including St George's CoE School and Gravesend Grammar School.
He added: "There have been a number of incidents in the town centre in recent weeks which some people may have found worrying. These have all involved people who are known to each other, with none of them being a pupil at a school in Gravesend.
"Specialist investigators are pursuing every available line of enquiry to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the area is kept safe for everyone to enjoy.
"Our officers also have established relationships with schools across the county to educate children on a number of issues, including drug misuse, gang crime and internet safety."
It comes as the schools wrote to parents with St George's head Matt Lillie saying they had been "advised to ask parents and pupils to avoid Gravesend town centre until the end of term".
His words were echoed by Gravesend Grammar School head Malcolm Moaby who "strongly advised" the same and asked pupils not to "hang around unnecessarily before and after school".
He said he did not feel children needed to change their transport arrangements if they needed to catch buses, trains or ferries from the town centre but warned them to "take extra precautions".
Increased patrols have been ordered and Supt Loudon said these would continue "throughout the summer months" in the "high footfall areas" of the borough.
But Supt Loudon responded saying: "All residents, including young people, are encouraged to enjoy the district while bearing in mind the same safety precautions they would take at any other time."
Gravesham council leader also hit back at the schools' letters saying the message put out by the schools "is not reflective of the situation in Gravesend and is not a helpful one".
Cllr Burden (Lab) added: "Our Community Safety Unit works very closely with Kent Police and together our aim is to ensure the town centre remains a safe place for people to visit and enjoy.
"Specialist investigators are pursuing every available line of enquiry to bring those responsible to justice..."
"Clearly recent incidents have been a cause for concern, but I know the police investigations into these are progressing well and, as always, they have proactive measures in place aimed at preventing further incidents."
Investigations are continuing into several assaults and stabbings in Gravesend and Northfleet in the past six weeks.
Two people were arrested and charged after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in Haynes Road, Northfleet on July 4.
Dilwar Hussain, 24, of Nelson Road, Northfleet, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
A 17-year-old boy from Northfleet has also been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Both will appear at Woolwich Crown Court on August 4 and have been remanded in custody.
Another two people arrested aged 16 and 19 have been bailed until July 30.
An assault in New Road in the town centre on July 11 saw two men injured and police have launched an investigation
Officers are also continuing to probe an attack in Milton Road where a teenage boy was stabbed multiple times in the back and leg on a zebra crossing on June 15.
Suspects arrested have been released from custody pending further inquiries.
A driver was stabbed after his Jeep Cherokee crashed into a wall in High Street, Northfleet on July 2.
Police say the occupants of a white Audi, a red Audi and a white Ford Transit jumped out of their vehicles after the crash and attacked the victim and left the scene following the assault.
Supt Loudon said: "When spontaneous incidents of disorder do occur, we are well resourced to respond quickly and robustly.
"This has included arresting two people on the same night of a serious assault in Haynes Road, Northfleet. We were then able to promptly charge and remand them in custody to appear at court."
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