Councillors have given the green light for a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle anti-social behaviour, mostly fuelled by alcohol, which has been making life miserable for residents and businesses.
The order would introduce a blanket ban on drinking alcohol in Margate High Street and Ramsgate High Street (other than in licensed premises) and prohibitions across the district on anti-social behaviour related to alcohol and on urinating or defecating in any public place other than a serviced public toilet.
It replaces the PSPO which was agreed by Cabinet on 24 July 2025 but was not implemented due to the threat of legal challenge from the Free Speech Union.
One section objected to was around foul language in public. The Free Speech Union said the order “would have a chilling effect on free speech in the borough (and) is unlawful.”
This section does not feature in the new version of the PSPO.
The new order, which will be in force for three years once it is introduced, specifically addresses alcohol-related issues, urination and defecation in public places which have been identified as persistent challenges in Margate, Ramsgate and – during the summer season – Broadstairs.
Since the summer of 2025, Kent Police and the council’s Community Safety team have reported increasing difficulties in managing issues, which cause considerable problems for residents and local businesses.
Witness statements used to backed the new order spoke of intimidation, aggression, abuse and fighting, theft, indecent exposure and instances of people urinating and defecating in full view of others.
Statements cited incidents including one where a drunk man went up to a business’s window and defecated in front of them and others of people have sex in view of the public.
Cllr Heather Keen, who is the Cabinet member for community, said: “The evidence makes for shocking reading.”
Cllr John Davis, who had originally backed the redrawing of the PSPO, saying it had to be “fit for purpose” said the new version Now it’s evidence based…it does now make sense and it’s taken out those contentious parts that caused the debate before.”
Cllr Kristian Bright made pointed reference to Cllr Davis, saying: “I am really glad the PSPO meets with our colleague’s approval finally.
“I have to take issue with the view that somehow preventing the use of foul and abusive language and harassment of women and girls was somehow contentious.
“It’s nothing that councils up and down the country don’t already do. It’s disappointing we have had to dilute it versus what our original proposal was but I am hopeful that this will finally deliver the steps needed to prevent some of the ongoing asb we have seen in our towns across the district across the last couple of years.”
The new measures include town-specific and district-wide restrictions:
Margate and Ramsgate: A year-round blanket ban on the consumption of alcohol in the restricted areas identified: Margate High Street and Ramsgate High Street
District-wide: Prohibitions on anti-social behaviour related to alcohol, failing to surrender an alcohol container when required to do so by an authorised officer, and urinating or defecating in any public place other than a serviced public convenience.
Cabinet members agreed to take the revised PSPO to a four week consultation before it is considered along with the responses ahead of it being implemented.
Witnesses supporting a Thanet Public Spaces Protection Order describe drinking, drug use, fighting, man defecating outside business window and people have sex in public view
Finally I hope that includes the top of Madera Walk green always drunks and drugs smoking a horrible situation for young kids and families to sit with hope this will have security
This will only work if those people are made to regret their actions. If they don’t you can expect a hard time.
I hope that includes people smoking dope!
Cllr. Davis worried shouting expletives at women would likely land him in trouble. I remember hearing a recording of him going off at a former Ramsgate mayor. Not pleasant.
Oh, wasn’t that the dodgy recording that was completely unverified and kept in Labour’s spurious scandal drawer for a year and that Will Scobie tried to get published but both a journalist and the Police said nothing to see here. That was another pathetic failed attempt by Labour to smear another political party during an election. Labour continues to behave like scum politically with dirty election tricks even to the point of preventing Andy Burnham standing as an MP, and now Starmer reusing the antisemitism playbook to try and take the Green Party down as he did with Corbyn. Kristian Bright’s sarcasm as a Cabinet member continues to illustrate the general nastiness that comes with political failure.
Or maybe the person who recorded it didn’t want the Labour Party making political capital out of it… Cllr. Davis knows what he said and it goes some way to explaining why he was so upset by this particular part of the legislation.
Difficulty for young inebriated females to wait when all the local loos have been closed over the last few decades. Very difficult for any female to factor in a walk or trip out , especially if you should decided to walk before the Easter opening season miraculously re-opens most of the seaside loos. Edwardian campaigned to make these facilities available for women and how far we have fallen allowing them to be closed again to re-divert money elsewhere.
How much extra council tax would you be prepared to pay to have the public toilets open all year?
Handy hint: irrespective of gender, if you’re frequenting a cafe, bar or pub, use the loo before you leave.
In addition to public conveniences, libraries, doctor’s surgeries and some railway stations have them, too.
None. I’d expect councils to give priority over toilets and cleaning before getting way out of their depth with other things (like trying to save theme parks, and then getting things drastically wrong).
No need to increase council tax to pay for all year open toilets. Just charge people to use them. Like they do in countless other places!
Well will we see more police in ramsgate High Street? As all they do is either walk on the harbour front on stand on the corner opposite Lloyd’s bank.while cyclists, cars drive through no entry, up the high street, so as well as the repetitive alcoholic abusing people. Mmm I’ll hold back on their positive attitude
Kent Police and TDC need to get Southeastern to take steps to stop louts with cans boarding trains at stations such as Chatham. British Transport Police need to present.. a more visible presence on trains.
More cop cars than there are shops.
People having sex? Were they attractive & worth seeing? I remember one local paper story from 30 odd years back of a bunch of young ladies around Xmas Eve or New Years Eve stripping naked at the top of Margate High Street, while singing Spice Girls songs.
Got any pics?
Sadly not, can’t find any mention of it online-it was Xmas/New Year of almost certainly 1996/1997 or 1997/1998 & think the Thanet Times reported it, though it might well have been the Gazette or KM Extra.