Kent police arrest four individuals in solar panel fraud investigation

Kent Police arrested four suspects on suspicion of fraud and money‑laundering after a multi‑year scheme targeted elderly homeowners with bogus solar‑panel upgrades. The arrests took place in Whitstable and Herne Bay in July 2026, with earlier detentions of a Whitstable woman and a 65‑year‑old man in 2025. Victims reported that cold‑call operators offered grants or repairs, collected payments for work that was never carried out, and sometimes refused refunds.

Detective Constable Darren Ousby warned residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers, stating that legitimate companies will allow time to review proposals and that deals that sound too good to be true usually are. Police also executed search warrants at four addresses in Whitstable, Herne Bay and Cambridgeshire as part of the ongoing probe.

All four suspects have been released pending further investigation, and authorities are urging solar‑panel owners to report any suspicious approaches.