A comment on Stephen Jarrett’s arrest

It was revealed today that the son of a senior councillor was arrested ‘on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled substance’.

Stephen Jarrett, who lives with his councillor father Alan, the Deputy Leader of Medway Council, and his mother Denise, was arrested when the family home in Ballens Road, Chatham, was raided on Thursday morning.

Despite the controversy this will likely be made into by opposition parties on the council, this is, and should be treated as, a strictly private family matter.

Cllr Jarrett said:

Anything that may or may not have happened is a private family matter and will be dealt with as such.

It is nothing to do with my job or my role as a councillor, nor is it anything to do with me or with Denise.

It does not impact on the council or the work I do for the council.

It is distressing enough for a family to witness a raid and arrest, without the media and opposition parties shining a spotlight on them through what should be a time for privacy.

For my part, this will be my only comment on this matter and I hope, though suspect otherwise, that others will follow suit.