Youngsters aged 10 to 15 dispersed in Westgate, Margate and Birchington and bikes seized

August 14, 2025 Kathy Bailes News 24

Officers attended reports of antisocial behaviour by youngsters on bikes Image Kent Police

Twenty young people aged 10 to 15 have been dispersed by police from Birchington, Westgate and Margate and 15 bikes have been seized in response to reports of antisocial behaviour.

Kent Police received a number of reports that children had been causing safety issues by riding in large groups, obstructing traffic and pedestrians and being abusive towards people.

Neighbourhood officers nearby responded to the calls made by members of the public during the afternoon on Saturday 9 August.

Additional measures were brought in to help deter the groups from further nuisance behaviour, including a Section 34 dispersal order that covered Westgate and Birchington for 48 hours. Similar orders were already in place across the three larger towns of Thanet.

Despite attempts by the offenders to evade police, a large group of teenagers were detained in the area of Westgate Railway Station, where their bikes were seized and they were formally ordered out of the area for 48 hours.

Police also attended Hartsdown Park, and moved on more nuisance riders. Four were formally dispersed and had their bikes seized.

Parents and guardians of all the riders were contacted and made aware of the issues they were causing, and the children were made to leave the area or risk arrest if seen again.

Sergeant Jim Woodward said: “We thank everyone who reported the issues when they arose, as it enabled officers to quickly intervene, identify those responsible, and take steps to disrupt their behaviour.

“By weaving in and out of traffic, pulling wheelies in front of cars and people, and generally disregarding the highway code, it can cause a very serious safety concern for all road users. The repercussions could be far-reaching and we urge young people to socialise and cycle responsibly.”

24 Comments

  2. So this is a crime, yet when I reported two 10 years olds for trying to kill my dog by hanging it by its neck I was told they were too young to be committing a crime, go figure!

    • Seems pretty straightforward to me. I imagine what you were told is that they were below the age of criminal responsibility so could not be prosecuted. Had they been caught in the act of hanging your dog I’m quite sure the police would have stopped them and moved them on, exactly as happened here.

  4. Parents! Non existent parenting and standards seems to manifest itself in many ways. Excellent work by Police.

    • What’s all this “ excellent work by the police “. ? . Surely they are just doing their job that we as taxpayers pay for
      It’s no big deal ! I’ve had several problems with a kids home in Westgate but the police never responded saying they had other priorities . Sometimes I think the police pick which jobs they will attend to including not nicking people speeding double the speed limit via Acol but they like a nice safe easy Nick on the Canterbury Road between Westgate and Birchington

  5. Don’t parents teach their children the dangers of playing in railways These days??

    What ever happened to the stop! danger! Short films on TV I used to watch in the 1970s.

    I hope the police fine the parents for returning the bikes or put them all in a crusher!

    I expect a few do-gooders will be appalled by my comments.

  6. 😂😂😂 be careful Peter, people will complain using humour it’s against the law now! In starmers England.

    Must get back to writing my songs🤔

  7. As an elderly mobility scooter user, I have a near death experience most days by cylists, and e-scooter riding on the pavements. They all depend on people avoiding them, instead of them avoiding us! One way to stop them would be for police to spray them with “Criminal Identifyer” paint. This is water soluable, but can stay visable for days, and are legal!

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