Security staff patrolling the town after agreeing a contract with Ramsgate Town Council have been in action during their first week.
Probe Security, operated through sister company Marc One Security, provides two dedicated security officers to patrol daily on eight-hour shifts.
The town council says it was prompted to take action following concerns raised by residents and local businesses around anti-social behaviour, business vulnerability and public confidence.
In their first week security officers responded quickly to reports of shoplifters at Poundland, spoke to suspects, and helped recover stolen goods. They also kept a visible presence in shops like Boots, Iceland, and KFC to deter theft.
The Probe officers also searched for a missing woman with dementia and checked public toilets and the town until she was found safe.
They have spoken to homeless people, listened to their concerns, and checking they were okay and talked to people drinking in public, calmed down arguments, and stepped in when there was shouting or aggressive behaviour. They reported serious incidents to the police and made sure everyone was safe.
Officers have also checked in with shop staff, market managers, and business owners, listened to their concerns, and made sure they felt supported. They also worked closely with local police officers.
Patrols have covered parks, car parks, gardens, the sea front, and busy streets. Officers checked for fly tipping, graffiti, and other issues, and made sure these areas were safe for everyone.
Ramsgate Town Council says: “These security officers do not replace the police. Residents and business owners must still report all crimes and emergencies directly to Kent Police.”
Security staff do not have arrest powers but can, when appropriate, use the limited powers of citizen’s arrest under Section 24A of PACE 1984.
Why are the public paying for this should the shops not pay, 100% waste of money by Chair of the Council, Councillor Steve Albon still not his money just all the people who pay council tax etc, what a job when you don`t have to answer to any one nice one Steve
And what about overspend by £1.4 million on waste! Nothing heard from anyone!
Another waste of money by Ramsgate town council
What did they talk to people drinking in public about? How much taxpayer money is being spent on this, paying these people to do what the police, PCSO’s, town warden & store security are already paid to deal with?
Are those people totally incapable of doing their job-hence the need for a security team? What happens after six months-they get rehired at who knows what cost, or things just go back to normal? It seems the only reason they are being hired is if things get physical-isn’t that what the police are trained for?
Another waste of money from Ramsgate town council
as the report rightly says , these individuals have no more power than you or me , i dont know where the money is coming from to pay these people to wander around the town playing rambo ,a total waste of time and money
Rees will be pleased that they’re cutting crime in the area.
You dont need them, if you want the police to come dial 999 and say someone has shoplifted, and add one of the following to the description of the crime:
They shouted that there are only 2 genders and men cant have babies.
Any negative comment on Islam
They were waving a British flag
You will have a helicopter and sniffer dogs within a few mins.
Are we expected to take anonymous comments seriously? We would rather listen to the hundreds that commented sensibly to our consultation. Security of the town centre was the highest priority amongst both residents of all ages and businesses.
Mrs Dover, we will revue the trial after six months and meantime make adjustments if required.
You are confirming to your residents what they already know, the police are unable to keep the peace. The Tories created the problem now it is your Governments, have a word with them Councillor>?
And you haven’t told us how much of our money this is costing, or why the people already paid to do these jobs-the police, PCSO’s, town wardens & security staff of stores are unable to do what this security firm is doing-presumably for a lot of taxpayer money.
As for the usual Thanet councillor way of dismissing comments by saying anonymous comments cannot be seriously-the answer that none of you ever respond to is the same, that labour councillors in other areas have made spurious allegations of harassment to go after people making comments they/certain others don’t like-by sending the police round to ‘check on their thinking’ along with of course the Labour government letting dangerous people out of jail early so they can make room to lock up some social media trolls in the similar 1984 style approach. Perhaps stop behaving like authoritarians & people would be more willing to use their names.
I, for one was extremely pleased to see a visible security presence around the town area. They will cost less than the police, therefore will spend longer patrolling, more time talking and listening to locals. Keep it up please.
It’s a brilliant idea, and something that Ramsgate has needed for a long time.
Totally agree Peter; a visible deterrent
Hopefully you will get some in Birchington soon Peter, as that area seems to have been turned into a crime hotspot in the last few years!
They all scram back to Ramsgate as soon as they see me!
Two problems local gal
1. The police are being paid by the taxpayer to do this job regardless, so now you are paying for the police & a security team.
2. You have no idea how much this company is being paid to do this-again it is your money, but you aren’t allowed to know how much is being spent on this, or why the various people being paid to do these things described-police, town wardens, PSCO’s etc cannot do so & as they can’t why are they being paid? Why not just fire the PCSO’s & wardens & employ these guys instead?
Local Gal.
What do you mean they will cost less than the Police? What nonsense.
Two security guards cannot be compared with 2 frontline officers in terms of training, knowledge of the law etc. Nor can privatised security services conducting a low level policing role be made accountable by the state. It’s two tier Policing and falls short of a professional police force.
Neither do you know what RTC is paying Probe for the contract, so far Probe wants to keep this to themselves.
However, it’s public money and we should know.
In a few years time if the UK continues its terrible decline the public will no doubt accept private militia to protect them.
Careful what you open yourselves up to.
What a waste of money! They should put that money towards an other art project. That’s what we really need. Painting rainbows and reviving unicorns. Reciting poems to welcome ribs from war torn France. No vigilantes on our beaches!
I felt safe when I saw these security officers.
Well that anecdote is overwhelming proof they are needed. Did you not feel safe before? What was happening in the minutes beforehand to make you personally feel unsafe?
Probe now has the security cloak of town centre omnipresence.
Perhaps they’ll organise safety shopping crocodiles for the fearful.
Linda- what makes you feel unsafe in Ramsgate, during the day? I can understand why you might feel anxious late at night when it’s chucking out time.
I have witnessed anti-social behaviour on several occasions in Ramsgate.
On one occasion my mother who is in her late 80s had a large cardboard box put over her head by a group of youths and on another occasion a group of about 6 or 7 youths went into Boots and grabbed as much as they could before running out the other door knowing that their number would easily overwhelm the security guard. On another occasion I saw a group of young teenagers tearing up an down the pedestrianised zone on e-scooters deliberately narrowly missing pedestrians. In fact I see this sort of behaviour nearly every time I go to Ramsgate.
These security guards are a deterrent and can be a constant presence in the area. For those who are saying the Police should be doing this: The Police need to be able to respond to emergencies at short notice so can’t be a constant presence. Also, if the Police were to arrest anybody they would again be taken away from the area to process the arrestee at the police station. For those who are complaining about the cost. As a percentage of council tax, business rates receipts, parking charges etc., the cost is miniscule.
As far as I’m concerned, if they are proactive in deterring and dealing with anti-social behaviour, it’s money well spent.
Rabbie- I live very near the town centre, and visit it almost every day. I have never seen anything like that.