Man fined after police and coastguard search on River Medway near Rochester Bridge deemed hoax
10:38, 04 November 2020
updated: 13:16, 04 November 2020
A man has been fined after a river search involving a helicopter and several emergency teams turned out to be a hoax.
Police and coastguard were called to the area near the Rochester Bridge over the River Medway on Sunday night .
Officers were called at about 7.20pm to reports of a person in the water.
But following a search nobody was found and inquiries led to a man in his 20s being arrested for wasting police time.
He was questioned in custody on Monday and later released with a penalty notice.
The £90 fine – a fixed sum – is not linked to the cost of the operation.
Emergency services descended on the area near The Esplanade on the banks of the river.
Witnesses reported seeing a helicopter circling around the area as teams worked to locate a person reportedly in the river.
A police spokesman confirmed an investigation found the report had been "falsely made".
The force said fines for offences like this are issued after officers establish there is "overwhelming evidence to support" it or an admission.
The fine can be forced through the courts if it is not paid.
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