Murder probe launched after house fire

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman died following a house fire in West Malling. Kent Police was called to Spitfire Way, West Malling at 9pm on Saturday 17 November 2018. Officers attended the scene with Kent Fire and Rescue Service and two people were taken to hospital. One of them, a woman aged in her 60s was later pronounced deceased. A child was treated for a leg injury and smoke inhalation. A 51-year-old man from West Malling was arrested and remains in police custody. An investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate is ongoing and anyone with information which may assist our enquiries is asked to call 101 quoting reference 17-1809. Due to prior police contact with the man a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC.)