A male suspect is in police custody following his arrest for outraging public decency at Ashford International Station on the evening of December 30, 2023. The arrest came after Southeastern Railway (Se_Railway) enforcement officers reported the incident to British Transport Police.
The incident unfolded when vigilant members of the public alerted Southeastern Railway enforcement officers to a male individual who had exposed his genitalia and was engaged in an indecent act within the confines of Ashford International Station. Recognising the severity of the situation, the enforcement officers promptly contacted the police to intervene.
Kent Police officers swiftly responded to the call and arrived at Ashford International Station to address the incident. The male suspect was apprehended and taken into custody for further questioning. The individual’s identity and personal details have not been disclosed at this time.
Following the arrest, officers proceeded to obtain statements from witnesses who had observed the incident. Additionally, they reviewed and seized relevant CCTV footage, as well as body-worn camera (BWV) recordings, to gather evidence regarding the incident.
Due to the nature of the offence and the seriousness of outraging public decency, the case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives. CID detectives will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, examining all available evidence to establish the full scope of the offence.
Outraging public decency is a criminal offence that pertains to actions that are deemed lewd, obscene, or indecent and are conducted in a public place where they may be seen by others. Convictions for such offences can result in various legal consequences, including criminal charges and potential penalties.
Police encourage anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has additional information related to the case to come forward and cooperate with the ongoing investigation. The police can be reached by dialling the non-emergency number 101.
