A white and black three-wheeled scooter — found to be stolen — has been removed from Chatham streets as part of ongoing police action against antisocial vehicle use in Medway.
The Vehicle Taken Off the Street
Officers on patrol in Chatham spotted a white and black three-wheeled scooter parked up and seized it. Turned out it was stolen. Kent Police confirmed the seizure is part of broader enforcement activity targeting antisocial vehicle use across the area — which, given what residents have been dealing with, is probably overdue.
One less vehicle causing grief. But the problem runs much deeper than a single scooter.
What Residents Have Been Putting Up With
People in Chatham have been raising the alarm for some time about motorbikes and quad bikes tearing through public spaces — hammering across parks, dominating residential streets, making ordinary life feel less ordinary. Barnfield Recreation Ground is among the spots caught up in it.
The complaints aren’t new, and they haven’t been politely worded. Residents in affected areas describe the behaviour as intimidating. Spaces that should feel open and welcoming have started to feel hostile instead. And the pressure on both police and the council to do something about it has been mounting steadily.
The Numbers Behind the Crackdown
The scale of the response speaks for itself. Kent Police Inspector Paul Diddams said officers had turned out to nuisance vehicle incidents 32 times in just five weeks — including nine separate visits over a single weekend. The area, Insp Diddams made clear, is being treated as a priority.
Medway Council has been busy too. Since a Public Space Protection Order came into force in Medway, council officers have issued 106 fixed penalty notices. The PSPO gives authorities the muscle to act on everything from illegal roadside vehicle sales to abandoned cars and parking offences.
Calls for Stronger Powers
Tris Osborne, Labour MP for Chatham and Aylesford, has backed proposals for tougher national legislation — specifically, changes that would let police confiscate and destroy nuisance vehicles without needing to serve prior notice. That proposal sits within the Crime and Policing Bill, which was still working its way through parliament at the time of reporting.
But even without those extra powers, enforcement is already happening. Patrols, fixed penalties, seizures — it’s all under way.
How to Report a Nuisance Vehicle
Medway Council says residents can flag nuisance vehicles — abandoned cars, illegal roadside repairs, parking offences — through its dedicated nuisance vehicle service. If it’s antisocial riding or something kicking off right now, contact Kent Police on 101, or 999 if it can’t wait.
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Key Takeaways
- Kent Police seized a stolen white and black three-wheeled scooter from a Chatham street during a nuisance vehicle patrol
- Officers have responded to nuisance vehicle incidents 32 times in five weeks, with nine visits over one weekend alone
- Medway Council has issued 106 fixed penalty notices under its Public Space Protection Order since the scheme began
What This Means for Kent Residents
If you’re in Chatham or wider Medway and you’ve had enough of nuisance vehicles, there are official routes to report it. Medway Council’s nuisance vehicle service handles abandoned vehicles, illegal roadside repairs and parking issues. For antisocial riding, ring Kent Police on 101 — or 999 if it’s an emergency. The enforcement already under way shows both agencies are taking this seriously, and if the Crime and Policing Bill passes, police could soon have the power to act even faster.