Kent Police will be conducting high visibility patrols in the Ramsgate town and seafront areas this evening as a continued response to a spate of stabbings and disturbances over previous weeks.
Officers from the Community Safety Unit, along with specialist tactical units and members of the Local Policing Teams will be in the area, both in vehicles and out on foot, engaging with people during the weekend evenings.
Today (April 14), police teams are out emptying the knife bins across Thanet and will be dropping into the licensed premises to provide support and offer metal detection wands and training to use these in attempts to reduce disorder.
Central Harbour ward councillors Becky Wing, Tricia Austin and Raushan Ara have been calling for increased enforcement of a Public Spaces Protection Order put in place for Ramsgate in 2018. They say crime statistics for the area are ‘shocking’ and there is a failure to tackle the problems.
The increased patrols comes after two men suffered stab wounds during a disturbance on April 6; one man was stabbed during a town centre brawl on March 25 and, the same evening, a taxi driver was stabbed and robbed in Margate Road. A man was also stabbed in the arm during an incident on Ramsgate seafront on March 18.
Recently, Thanet District Commander Ian Swallow shared news of a second multi-agency task force for the isle which will come into force as part of a new neighbourhood policing model launching in June.
Although PCSO numbers are being cut, changes will mean every Thanet ward has a named Police Constable for the area and there would be a doubling up of officers in busy wards, such as Central Harbour.
For those who are out, if you feel unsafe and need support check the “My night out” app from Thanet Community Safety Partnership to see where the safe spaces are, the best lit streets and direct access to taxi companies as well as online links to the Police and other emergency services and details of Ask Angela/Andrew premises.
