A man has been arrested on suspicion of drug offences, burglary and electricity theft in a condemned property in Dartford.

Photos were tweeted last night (September 1) by Richard Langrish of a police car outside boarded up houses in Lowfield Street - where the new Tesco store is due to be built.

A 37-year-old man was arrested after an incident in nearby Heath Street. 

A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "We were called to Heath Street, Dartford, at around 7.40pm on September 1 to a report of a man being seen in a derelict building.

"A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary dwelling, possession with intent to supply cocaine and abstracting electricity. He remains in custody."

Digital marketer Rich Langrish, 31, was visiting his girlfriend in Lowfield Street, when he saw the commotion.

He told News Shopper: “I was visiting my girlfriend who lives at one of the flats within Phoenix Place, opposite the Spenhill site (which is soon to be a Tesco) on Lowefield Road, we'd seen white men climbing over the fences during the weekend and getting into the condemned buildings, they seemed a bit rough but far from homeless.

“Yesterday night at around 7pm we saw police cars arrive and officers (four who seemed to be armed) appeared to 'box off' the development, covering various entry points and side roads while three officers entered the property via climbing over the fence.

“After 20 minutes, officers escorted one man over the fence and he was arrested, placed into car, officers spent another hour outside and within the property, we can only assume they were searching the place, we couldn't tell if they had found the other male.

News Shopper:

“I can't comment on their activity within the house, though hopefully this will help secure the property going forward as it's an eyesore and really brings down the area.”