A 15-year-old Swanley boy has been arrested and bailed after shops, the recreation ground and the station were sprayed with graffiti on 19 and 20 September.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after several businesses in Swanley were damaged with graffiti and paint. Kent Police announced the arrest on Friday morning. (Kent Police, Teenager arrested following reports of criminal damage in Swanley)

The damage happened over the weekend of 19 and 20 September. The force says premises in the town centre and at Swanley Recreation Ground were targeted.

British Transport Police is separately investigating graffiti daubed at Swanley station over the same weekend.

Arrested and bailed

Officers arrested a local boy as part of the investigation. He has been bailed. He has not been charged, and Kent Police has not named him.

The force has not said what the graffiti said, and has not given a motive.

Chief Inspector Paul Diddams said his team would “explore every line of enquiry available to bring those responsible to justice”. He added: “The impact of such criminal damage on our community is not lost on us.”

Key facts of the Swanley graffiti investigation: damage over the weekend of 19 and 20 September at several town centre premises and Swanley Recreation Ground, graffiti at Swanley station investigated by British Transport Police, a 15-year-old local boy arrested and bailed, appeal line 01622 604100 quoting reference 19-0174
Graphic by Sevenoaks Online
Share this chartFacebookWhatsAppX

The clean-up

Kent Police says it has worked with partner agencies to get the graffiti and paint cleaned off. Diddams said the aim was that “people can continue to enjoy Swanley town centre and everything it has to offer”.

Can you help?

Police want to hear from anyone with information. Call the west Kent appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference 19-0174.

The force is also asking:

  • residents with private CCTV to check their footage
  • drivers with dashcams who were in the area that weekend to check theirs

For the wider picture, our Sevenoaks district crime data page tracks the latest police.uk figures month by month.

Sources

Image: Swanley Station, by N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swanley_Station_-geograph.org.uk-_3447795.jpg. The photo was taken in 2013 and does not show the graffiti. Graphic by Sevenoaks Online.