A knife has been seized and a man arrested after an officer was allegedly assaulted while responding to reports a man was acting erratically.

The incident happened at around 3.50pm yesterday (Sunday, September 22) in the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham High Street, outside Poundland.

A police community support officer was on patrol when he responded to a report that a man was acting erratically in a shop.

It is alleged the PCSO was assaulted at the premises. A local man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the incident.

A knife was also seized and inquiries are under way.

The incident was witnessed by a 12-year-old who described the moment as “scary” as she watched the suspect being handcuffed as he lay on the ground.

She says she saw a total of nine officers.

She said: “Everyone looked really distressed – I was scared and my legs were shaking.”

The 12-year-old’s mother said she is now wary to let her daughter, who is in Year 8, go into town shopping again because of these types of situations.

The 32-year-old mum said: “I don’t usually let her out, knife crime being the main reason. I am careful to let her out - and it just so happens the one time I say she can go shopping with her friend, this happens.”

The suspect was conditionally bailed to return to the police station on December 22, pending further investigation.