A 48 hour dispersal order is in place in Margate High Street after police were called yesterday (August 12) following complaints of teens brawling, including that a teenage girl punching a member of staff at McDonalds and then pulling a woman’s hair.
Officers attended at around 5pm and, while trying to make enquiries, arrested a 16-year-old boy from London after attempts were made to damage a police car and an officer was assaulted.
One trader said: “There were running battles with police and underage drinkers all day. McDonald’s was made to close by police because of unrest.
“Local traders out protecting their businesses and others. People were seen with bottles and metal poles in hands for weapons.
“This wasn’t an isolated incident either. I’ve had reports of mass brawls on the harbour arm at least twice from other traders plus on the steps on the beach too. The town is also awash with rubbish again as the council bins cannot cope with the influx.”
The trader said ‘ineffectual policing’ due to staffing cuts means yobs are getting away with brawling and causing damage.
Trouble yesterday also extended to the beach where one concession closed at 4pm due to the disruption and a number of ‘laughing gas’ canisters were found on the sands.
Kent Police said: “An arrest has been made as part of an ongoing investigation into a disturbance involving a group of young people in Margate High Street.
“Kent Police was called to the area at around 5pm on Monday 12 August where it was reported that member of staff at a commercial premises had been punched by a teenage girl. Police are also investigating a report that a girl assaulted a woman by pulling her hair.
“While making enquiries at the scene, attempts were made to damage a police car. A 16-year-old boy from London was arrested on suspicion of causing damage, as well as assaulting an officer. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
“Officers worked with CCTV operators to monitor the area and a 48-hour dispersal order was put in place. The group was dispersed away from the town centre with a warning that they risked arrest if they returned.”
Absolutely disgusting behaviour! Why would anyone want to eat McDonalds?! 🤮
For once not Birchington😅😅
We leave the low quality eateries to the loopites.
It makes a change being Margate it’s usually Broadstairs
Shows its getting worse in THANET. EVERYWHERE.
Southport Aldershot Belfast etc of late?
No it isn’t.
Not so.
I’ve just spent the afternoon at the Broadstairs Folk Week. There were thousands of people. There was no trouble at all.
That’s because it’s Folk, and not Drum & Bass/Jungle/Grime/Garage or any other anti-music that inevitably invites trouble.
Agree 100%. Certain music genres attract disproportionate amounts of trouble and incidents.
Well done Kent Police.
A big part of the problem is that there are no barriers at Margate Station. People are coming here with bad intentions, being reasonably sure that they won’t have to pay the fare. We expect you to do something about this, Polly Billington!
Why is South Eastern Railways fare evasion (a private enterprise matter) anything to do with thr local mp?
My point wasn’t about fare evasion. It was about people coming here with bad intent. Are you suggesting that the elected representative shouldn’t be allowed to comment?
What’s the local MP to do with it? Which local MP are you referring to?
There are very few guards / inspectors checking tickets on trains too (I recently travelled to Gatwick, and my ticket wasn’t checked at all on the trains or at the barriers!).
100% this
DFL at it again.
More likely DFM: down from Medway.
Or SFM (Scum From Medway)
Trouble in Broadstairs about to kick off , keep clear of the bandstand,
Another thing that might help is ID cards.
Lovely name you have, but the “show me your papers” approach is not the way to go.
Yes, worked wonders in East Germany. Just like the Hitler saluting lowlifes rioting recently-these vermin aren’t exactly hard to spot.
Yes. They worked very well in West Germany too. And they’re still working efficiently now in erm…. Germany. And lots of other countries!
Curbs are needed on local businesses selling alcohol to underage kids we know it happens and it only ever ends in this. Not to mention an increase in police. The upper end of the high street is really making an effort to change the area and bring in some civic pride yet MacDonalds is a magnet for trouble.
Every year the Council spout off about more enforcement officers for the beaches, extra bins, more frequent collections, an end to the problems of last year.
Every year their plan fails dismally on first contact with hot weather.
Would be funny if it wasn’t for the fact that our Council Tax is constantly hiked up to pay for it.
Will we see these facial recognition cameras, 24 hour courts, harsh sentencing and riot police out for this? No I expect nothing will be done and now Polly Billington has been elected, she will do nothing. She should be dealing with this.
Interesting that all those who complained about Craig and Roger’s inaction are so reluctant to criticise Polly.
Just moved to Derbyshire…nice. not far enough but…
Lucky you. I’ve been to the Matlock and Bakewell areas several times, and love the area (very friendly people too).
Did you go for the yummy tarts Peter?
No, I’m happily married… oh, I see what you mean, yes!
More free Palestine mobs I guess … or right wing thugs … both as bad as each other .. stay at home .. the streets are a lawless place now … maybe the Army needs to help ?
Being Frank
The Army help? All 77,000 of them of which only 37,000 are infantry? The Police Force is double the size of the Army now. You’ll also find that quite a few Police are Army reservists still.
Some streets in some towns and cities are sometimes “lawless places” .
Another consequence of global warming