28/03/2026
Following the hammer attack on our shop and Dearman Bartlett Independent Funeral Directors the night before last, we would like to share an update.
Firstly we would like to thank the huge number of people who have offered their support, our customers who have offered kindness and assistance, our neighbours and fellow businesses for helping clear up and make the shop safe (particularly Neil and his wife from Abacus Windows that came out to help board up at midnight). New Romney Town Council Mayor, John Rivers, and his team who came down to assist both shops, Kent Police from further afield who have canvassed the area for CCTV and our local officer PC Steve Putland. Notably, the police officers from other areas that came down noted the real sense of community support and community spirit to gather information and bring those accountable to justice.
So far the above has provided some tangible leads and a name that has repeatedly come up from a number of sources.
Reviewing the CCTV provided from our canvassing, the suspect can be seen at various points on his route, we are now asking for CCTV from specific areas to see how he entered the area and how he left.
We are asking anyone located at the top of the junction to Churchlands by the rear of the Royal Mail Sorting Office, and those houses close to the Sorting Office on both sides to review their footage to see if they can locate which direction the individual came from before he started walking from the The Coach House up the alley way to the funeral directors.
Also for those in Fairfield road between the junction with Mabledon Close and the junction by we are looking for footage showing EITHER the individual or a dark coloured small car travelling fast between the times of 2308hrs and 2315hrs in both directions, firstly towards Mabledon Close then returning shortly after back in the direction of the junction by The Plough New Romney.
Anyone who lives near the junction by The Plough if you would please check dash cams, CCTV or doorbell footage to see where this dark small car the heads this would be crucial to allow the police to track it further. We estimate it would be at that junction between 2315hrs and 2325hrs.
Anyone with information about the individual in the images, or the small dark car travelling fast in both directions along Fairfield road please can you contact us directly or PC Steve Putland.
On a brighter note, we are open normal business hours, please don’t be put off, our windows have been secured and it is business as usual.
Again, thank you all for your support, we will get to the bottom of this.
