Teenage girl arrested after Gravesend schools receive 'threatening email'
The message was suspected not to present a credible threat
A teenage girl has been arrested after a threatening email was received by schools in the Gravesend area.
Shortly before 8am yesterday (13 February), police received reports that a school in Northfleet had been sent a malicious message in the early hours of the morning.
Officers attended and spoke with staff at the scene.
Further reports were received from schools in Gravesham relating to similar emails and staff members were given words of advice.
The correspondence was suspected not to present a credible threat.
Officers remained in the area for reassurance and an investigation was launched.
Later the same day, officers arrested a 17 year old girl from Gravesend on suspicion of harassment.
She remains in custody while enquiries continue.
Chief Inspector Will Lay said:
'Keeping people safe in our communities is our utmost priority and we carried out a prompt response as soon as this incident was reported to us.
Our enquiries quickly identified that the email received was unlikely to contain a credible threat of harm.
Understandably, there has been considerable concern amongst the local community, while schools have faced significant disruption.
I hope it offers further reassurance to those in Gravesham that an arrest has been made and an investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident.'