Gillingham Safety concerns as police respond late to high street vandalism attack

On January 14th, Just before eleven pm a ‘crazy’ man was seen creating carnage at Gillingham High Street. The man causing a great disturbance was seen damaging local banks ‘Halifax’ and Lloyds’ and shattering the glass windows of other local businesses in the area.

Terrified onlooker Kaye Marshall, criticises Kent police for not being quicker with their arrival to the scene. “I called the police myself, not sure if others did, I’m not sure how long it took but it wasn’t quick’.

He was spotted lifting a local bin and tossing it into Halifax bank.When anyone was to walk past him he charged at them in an attempt to attack them. Ms Marshall supposes the man was ‘clearly having a mental health episode’.

Frighteningly, The man charged at Kaye, she also recalls him in a “husky voice” taunting her to “Get off her phone and put it away.” Intimidating bystanders and threatening them to not report the incident to the police.

“It was pretty frightening given the time and there was barely anyone around to help if needed,” Marshall said.

Before he briefly disappeared, he shouted “you know who I am?”. In a further attempt to disperse the few bystanders present.

He irritably returned holding a ‘breeze block’ and began to throw it at Halifax bank,till the glass window was damaged. This is when Ms Marshall left the high street as the man was remaining in an aggressive state.  Kaye left before the police could get to the scene and questions why they took so long knowing the severity of the situation. 

Kaye Marshall feels as though her safety was jeopardised due to the delayed arrival from the Kent police department.‘Somebody could have seriously been hurt while waiting for them to arrive’.

Gillingam is no stranger to vandalism attacks like this and as they become more frequent, business owners and residents’ concerns grow. This raises the question of what more can be done to reduce these crimes from taking place in Gillingham? 

If you know more information please inform https://www.kent.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/