Boy, 15, arrested after graffiti and paint damage at four Swanley locations

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after graffiti and paint were used to damage Swanley Railway Station, a YMCA charity shop, The Oaks GP Surgery and equipment at Swanley Recreation Ground over the weekend of 19–20 September 2026.

Kent Police announced the arrest on 25 September 2026, stating that several businesses and other locations in Swanley, in the Sevenoaks district, had been damaged with graffiti and paint. The boy was subsequently released on bail and investigations remain ongoing.

Damage was confined to the exteriors of the affected buildings and equipment, with no internal damage recorded. The graffiti included swear words and anti-Israel messages. Kent Police were not treating the incident as a hate crime at the time of reporting.

British Transport Police are involved in the investigation because Swanley Railway Station was among the locations affected. Most of the graffiti had been removed by 21 September 2026, though some smaller areas remained at that point.

Kent Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact the west Kent appeals line, quoting reference 19-0174. An arrest does not indicate that a person has been charged or convicted of any offence.

Key information

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police via the west Kent appeals line, quoting reference 19-0174.
British Transport Police are jointly investigating the damage at Swanley Railway Station.
The incident is being treated as criminal damage. The arrested boy has not been charged or convicted.

Source: @kent_police

Published: 25 September 2026