'Zero' Tolerance to hate crime

The mosque in Gillingham Credit: Meridian

Three people have been charged with various hate crimes related offences in Medway since Wednesday 22nd May - the day a soldier was murdered in Woolwich in south east London.

They are;

  • Andrew John Grindlay, who's 45 and from Rochester, appeared before Medway magistrates on Friday 24th May after a religious building was damaged on Canterbury Street in Gillingham. He was charged with religiously aggravated criminal damage and burglary. Andrew Grindlay has been bailed.

  • A 27-year-old Gillingham man has been charged with a public order offence and threats to commit criminal damage. He was arrested on 23rd May in Medway in connection with an assault on the High Street. He was charged the following day and has been remanded in custody.

  • An 85-year-old woman from Chatham has been charged with a public order offence in Canterbury Street, Gillingham. She was arrested on Friday 24th May.

Police are also continuing to question an incident outside Folkestone Mosque on Foord Road South on Thursday 23rd May in which a small rock was thrown at the door of the building while worshippers were inside. It was then reported to police four young girls had walked past and made racist comments.

Kent Police are taking a zero tolerance approach to any incidents of religiously or racially aggravated attacks, or hate crime, in the wake of the Woolwich murder.