From http://www.kentonline.co.uk 8 April, 2014 by Chris Hunter.

Chatham pub The Royal George has lost its licence after a damning police account of drugs raid

Councillors have stripped a high street pub of its licence after hearing damning evidence from a dramatic police raid.

Officers were met with violent threats and drunken hostility when they raided the "Royal George" in Chatham High Street, suspected of being a drugs den.

In application to review the licence today, a police report outlined how officers encountered aggression and found evidence of open and unchallenged drug use.

According to the report, one man – who was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply – was “particularly violent and needed to be physically restrained”.

The report continues: “This resulted in other members of the public in the pub, the majority of which were seen to be in an overly drunken state, making threats of violence towards police officers.”

Another man was also arrested and later charged with possession of the Class A drug heroin.

The report says sniffer dogs “indicated” eight of the 12 people in the pub, which although not conclusive “does paint a rather unfavourable picture of the level and openness of drug use within the premises.”

A further search found an empty, clear bag containing remnants of white powder, likely to be cocaine, on the bar itself, which again highlighted “the openness and unchallenged nature of drug use”.

After hearing further evidence in a closed session, Medway council's licensing hearing panel agreed to revoke the "Royal George's" licence with immediate effect.

Kevin Dennis Lewis Somerville, aged 44, of High Street, Chatham, has been charged with possessing heroin – a Class-A controlled drug. Robert James Thompson, aged 38, of Dial Road, Gillingham, has been charged with possessing a Class-C controlled drug. Both men have been bailed to appear at Medway Magistrates' Court on Monday, April 14.