East Thanet MP Polly Billington is calling on Southeastern to install ticket barriers at Broadstairs railway station in a bid to crackdown on youths travelling to the town to cause trouble.
Her campaign and a petition follows concerns raised by police and residents about the role that unchecked rail travel is playing in spikes of disorder around Thanet’s beaches and town centres that correlates with warmer weather and the summer tourist season.
The East Thanet MP said installing ticket barriers at Broadstairs station would help reduce fare evasion, deter antisocial visitors and support efforts to keep Thanet’s communities safe.
She adds that while Margate and Ramsgate stations frequently have additional security measures in place, Broadstairs Station remains an attractive target for fare evasion.
The MP said: “Thanet will always welcome visitors from far and wide, but there is no excuse for people abusing our hospitality by engaging in antisocial and drunken behaviour, parking illegally, stealing from local businesses, or leaving litter strewn across our beautiful beaches.
“I continue to work closely with the local police, rail operators and the council to ensure Thanet is prepared for these spikes in unacceptable behaviour. We have made good progress since last year with the hiring of new officers and new police powers coming into force, but there is clearly more that needs to be done.
“Installing ticket barriers at Broadstairs station is a simple, practical measure that would help deter fare evasion and support the police in identifying criminals and troublemakers. This is something the police are calling for, and they have my full support.”
The call for further action comes a year after scenes of violent disorder in Broadstairs prompted the MP to hold a meeting for together residents, business owners, Kent Police, the British Transport Police, Southeastern Trains, and Thanet District Council.
The meeting attracted many residents but there was upset that some people, including the then-mayor of Broadstairs, were denied tickets to attend.
The East Thanet MP says she has been coordinating with local authorities to improve preparedness for such incidents, and has welcomed increased policing resources from Kent Police on hotspot dates, greater involvement from the British Transport Police, stronger enforcement powers, and more coordinated working between local agencies.
She added: “Our three towns deserve to be places where residents feel safe, businesses can thrive, and visitors are welcomed in the right spirit. Together, we can send a clear message that while Thanet will always be open for visitors, we will not accept crime and antisocial behaviour as the price of a successful summer.”
Southeastern says enforcement officers are carrying out high visibility patrols and there is a dedicated British Transport Police (BTP) tasking team.
The rail firm also has powers to issue banning notices.
However, ticket barrier costs for one gated entrance are in the region of a seven-figure sum and in Broadstairs’ case, there would need to be gates at two entrances.
Over the summer, the train operator will be deploying additional security officers to Broadstairs Station and working closely with British Transport Police and Kent Police to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Southeastern says its investment priority for new ticket gates is at Margate and Ramsgate stations in accordance with local need.
Scott Brightwell, Safety, Planning and Performance Director at South Eastern Railway, said: “We understand concerns about anti‑social behaviour, and we want everyone using our railway to feel safe and welcome.
“While ticket barriers can play a role in preventing fare evasion, they are not a standalone solution to anti‑social behaviour and installing them at an ungated station is a complex project that requires careful planning and funding approval.
“Our immediate focus at Broadstairs, as across the network, is tackling anti‑social behaviour with the British Transport and Kent Police directly through visible enforcement and close partnership working.
“We continually review the joint tasking of resources from police officers to additional security staff, this will see additional resources at Broadstairs over the summer which we will keep under review.”
During the late May bank holiday, Kent Police officers made six arrests and moved on some 40 people across Thanet using dispersal order powers as part of an ongoing response to address antisocial behaviour concerns, such as underage street drinking and criminal damage.
During the weekend thousands of sunseekers visited Viking Bay in Broadstairs and officers made several arrests, moved on multiple people following reports of antisocial behaviour and seized alcohol from underage drinkers.
One teenager in Broadstairs was arrested for assaulting an emergency worker and for possession of cannabis, another was arrested for being drunk and disorderly, and a third was arrested for breaching a dispersal order.
Despite the arrests and dispersals several businesses in Broadstairs were forced to shut their doors, including Tesco, Co-op, the seafront cafes and Kent Surf School.
The disorder was a repeat of large disturbances in the summer last year when the town was subjected to fights, attacks on business staff, shop closures due to theft and verbal abuse and underage drinking by large groups of young people.
The MP is urging residents and supporters to back the campaign by signing her petition at: https://pollybillington.org.uk/2026/06/02/sign-the-petition-to-install-ticket-barriers-at-broadstairs-station-to-tackle-antisocial-behaviour/
They’ll just get off at Dumpton Park!
Far too much effort and long of a walk!
No further from Ramsgate beach than Ramsgate station (and a nicer walk!).
True!
More inconvenience to the public and those with kids/prams/wheelchair users to cover for rail company cuts!
Politicians rarely resolve anything indeed overtime they create the problems through short term solutions.
Was determined to get in before Peter C but anyway there is always next time. Barriers are only of use if you staff to stand on them. Having lived our first sixty years in different bits of London that were all on the tube, any non staffed barriers were always sites for the locals vaulting over them. Of course those in the know were aware that for Health and Safety reasons have to be constructed so you can physically push through them in case of fire, flood and riot. So sorry Polly but this suggestion is daft and seems simply to be done for publicity. AI not withstanding, there is no substitute for human beings in these situations!
Exactly, they’re only any use if manned (and if 100’s are coming through, they’ll need several men/women!).
Thank you Keith.
Well said.
Barriers are not enough. Barriers can be hopped over or left open – a real deterrent needs security staff and BTP officers to reinforce and issue penalties and fines. Yes, it’s a step in the right direction – but this issue needs to be throughly addressed if things are going to improve.
All Thanet’s stations need barriers, not just Broadstairs!
polly put the kettle on , it will be of more use .
Polly is complicit in the two-tier policing we currently have in this country .. shame on you
I don’t believe we have two-tier policing in this country, just inconsistent policies and biases in different regions.
I hadn’t noticed any two-tier policing in Broadstairs last week.
As if this will deter ASB, what a ridiculous idea, anyway how would the moany Christine Tongue navigate these barriers. We will be subject to even more of her moaning articles on the IOTN.
Hehe!
Ms Tongue would negotiate the barriers in exactly the same way that every other less able passenger, parent with a pram, or passenger with large luggage does.
They use the wide access gates.
She’d still moan.
Barriers need staff to assist passengers with pushchairs, disabilities etc. and to ensure they’re functioning properly. If there’s no staff available, the barriers are left open.
Staffing at stations has become reduced over the decades.
So you go from no staff and no barriers to staff and barriers, which comes at a cost.
Fortunately rail prices in the UK are super low and the increased costs can easily be absorbed by a slight increase in ticket prices.
Lol.
I would rather see more emphasis on the rubbish Thanet has become a dumping site and looks like something you would see in slum areas of other countries, as to the yobs arriving here just stop them at station make sure you have abilities to search anyone if your not sure put them back on train, if they are genuine visitors let them in, not sure how you tell the difference of course as not all teens are trouble many are not, just a few as usual spoil things for many
Polly needs to meditate upon the word “vault”.
She obviously has little understanding of the minds of either criminals or young males.
Wisdom is a quality in short supply.
Polly is a right bell. Like ticket barriers stop em. Hahahaha, useless waste of space. Can`t wait for her to go!
Is there a counter-petition, urging the railway bosses NOT to create extra barriers that could deter all the other passengers?
Why not rely on spot checks by on-board train staff instead of making public transport even more inaccessible for the people who need it most?
It would not be “more inaccessible”, as it would require someone to be manning the gates at all times. It’s all hyperthetical though, as there is no way they’ll go to the expense of putting barriers at both platforms and having at least two full-time staff.
Hyperthetical?
Tie Poe.
Of coarse!
Christine Tongue could be the Broadstairs ticket inspector, place her by the station exit. That should prevent most passengers from even getting off the train.
Why has nobody else thought of this? It’s so obvious. We are so lucky to have her as our MP.
Clearly they would see the new barriers, turn round and wait patiently for the next train to take them back were they come from. There would never be any trouble again.
We used to adopt ACPO guidance within our Community Safety Partnership planning when there were “threats” or “riots” and that Emergency Planning is still valid. However, ticket barriers as they have in Canterbury, will help enormously, for sure. Happy to support our MP on this.