‘Robust’ policing will tackle issues including social media organised mass gatherings and disruptive youths arriving on isle by train

Targeting individuals using social media to organise disruptive, mass gatherings and working with Southeastern and British Transport Police to potentially use a barrier system at railways stations such as Broadstairs are just two of the actions being taken by Kent Police to clamp down on antisocial behaviour in Thanet and across Kent this summer.

Following chaos linked to large groups of youths in Broadstairs, and to a lesser extent Margate, during the late May bank holiday, Kent Police have outlined ‘robust’ plans to keep disruption to a minimum.

Chief Inspector Ian Swallow, District Commander for Thanet, has also revealed that one of the social media ‘influencers’ who made a widely circulated video during the disturbances in Broadstairs is to be served with a Community Protection Warning for his part in ‘inciting’ a mass gathering which played a part in shops and businesses shutting their doors early due to thefts, intimidation and nuisance behaviour.

He said: “We do not want to ban young people from coming to Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, what we are trying to do is target the individuals causing the most harm and to say to those individuals that they are not welcome.”

Superintendent Rob Marsh, Head of Strategic Prevention, said police are encouraging ‘influencers’ to urge their followers to act responsibly but added: “A lot of mass gatherings are organised through social media platforms. We will take robust action on intelligence about pre-planned gatherings promoting disorder, antisocial behaviour or criminal activity.

“It can be really challenging to deal with but we do and will deal with it in a robust was to disrupt it and make people understand the impact it has.”

Ch Insp Swallow also confirmed that one individual from a Broadstairs school who circulated via social platforms a ‘red vs blue’ school wars fight meet up in February was also arrested and is going through the youth offending process.

Railway station barriers

Ch Insp Swallow said the feasibility of increasing security at rail stations through the use of barriers has also been discussed across agencies, including Southeastern and BTP.

He said: “We know a lot of harm and increased antisocial behaviour comes from outside the district. Barriers could be part of the solution but Southeastern can’t put barriers in and leave them, it has to be staffed with a combination (of Kent Police, BTP and Southeastern).

“A barrier would not necessarily be there for enforcement on its own but it helps with us working with BTP and Southeastern as a triple threat.”

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 we 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.

But, there will be additional security officers at Broadstairs station over the summer.

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.”

Marine Unit

For the first time, this summer will also see the use of the Kent Police marine unit in Thanet to tackle nuisance issues on the water.

Ch Insp Swallow said this could include problems caused to swimmers or beachgoers by irresponsible behaviour from people jet skiing, using small boats or even lilos and inflatables.

He added: “We will be able to deploy the Marine Unit to Jetskis or small craft, we are bringing that in as part of the approach to looking after both sides of the foreshore.”

Thanet ‘alcohol’ PSPO

Ch Insp Swallow and Kent Police are backing the latest Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Thanet aimed at tackling alcohol related antisocial behaviour.

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.

The PSPO, which is currently in public consultation, would mean that powers to tackle those incidents would be extended to Thanet council enforcement and Probe Security/ Marc One Security teams who are employed by Broadstairs and Ramsgate town councils.

Ch Insp Swallow said: “We work really closely with security from Broadstairs and (Ramsgate) councils. Their powers are limited but the PSPO will grant them powers like those of police officers have for preventing that antisocial behaviour.”

Ramsgate Town Council has also formally submitted its response to the consultation on the proposed PSPO strongly urging its urgent implementation.

Ramsgate Town Council’s response highlights regular incidents of street drinking leading to disorder, intimidation, and aggressive behaviour; Groups gathering in public spaces causing disturbances and threats of violence; Individuals found unconscious or injured in public places, requiring emergency service intervention and ongoing issues with public urination, defecation, littering, and substance misuse.

County statistics

Last summer (June to August 2025) Kent Police received 10,225 reports relating to antisocial behaviour, including multiple reports for the same incidents.

This figure accounts for 31% of the annual total ahead of autumn (September to November 2025 – 7,861 reports), spring (March to May 2025 – 7,836 reports) and winter (December 2025 to February 2026 – 6,819 reports).

The reports received in summer equate to around eight per policing district per day, with the majority (3,253) relating to nuisance gatherings followed by drunken or rowdy behaviour (2,130) and nuisance vehicles (1,941).

Preventative orders

Superintendent Marsh said: “The vast majority of people who go out to enjoy the warm weather do so responsibly. For the minority of troublemakers who think it is OK to start fights, damage people’s property or cause a nuisance to local residents or business owners, rest assured that you will be dealt with appropriately.

“In the last financial year we used a total of 1,090 preventative orders across Kent including 227 dispersal orders, 13 property closures, 27 Criminal Behaviour Orders and 430 Community Protection Warnings and 132 Community Protection Notices, and we will not hesitate to do so again to help us tackle the troublemakers this summer.

“There is no excuse for committing antisocial behaviour and our officers will act quickly to put a stop to anyone who does to ensure everyone else can enjoy their summer the way it is meant to be enjoyed.”

Children and young people

Kent Police is working with schools, colleges and initiatives such as Sports Connect for early intervention and ‘diversion.’

Officers visit the parents, carers or guardians of youngsters involved in antisocial behaviour to talk about their actions and the impacts of that, carry out safeguarding and, in some instances, put in place acceptable behaviour agreements.

Targeted dispersal notices to individuals will also mean officers visiting parents/carers about their behaviour with any continued nuisance likely to result in community protection warnings and notices.

Last year issues began following the completion of GCSEs and young people then descending onto the beaches with many instances of underage drinking.

Although underage drinking has featured in issues this year, Ch Insp Swallow said officers have also been dealing with ‘a slightly older demographic.’

Summer policing

In Thanet the summer months can see the isle’s population triple as visitors flood the coastal towns.

Annually this means adjusted shifts and additional officers in Thanet, as well as other flash points across the county.

High-visibility patrols, targeted operations and the use of dispersal orders and other powers are planned for the summer months. These have already been used in Thanet this year.

Last weekend (Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May 2026) officers deployed to Margate and Broadstairs moved on a total of 52 people and made eight arrests for offences including refusing to comply with a dispersal order, possession with intent to supply drugs and various other public order offences.

Superintendent Marsh said: “Tackling antisocial behaviour is a year-round commitment for Kent Police but the summer months present unique challenges that we always plan for in advance to ensure the people responsible are stopped in their tracks.

“Whilst our officers cannot be everywhere at all times of the day and night, we can predict where our officers are likely to be needed the most and ensure they are on hand to respond quickly to incidents when they occur.

“We can and will also carry out proactive operations targeting the issues we know matter most to local people such as abusive street drinkers, the use of catapults to damage property and wildlife, and the riding of nuisance vehicles including e-scooters.”

Kent Police say it is important that residents and businesses engage with officers to let them know about issues that affect them. Officers are also urging parents/carers to be aware of where their young people are and what they are doing.

Officers in Thanet are also working with Dreamland to make sure events are as trouble-free as possible. Ch Insp Swallow said events, typically catering for some 7,500 people at the venue, can be challenging but this year events such as Lovebox last weekend have run well.

Similar policing actions are taking place across Whitstable and Herne Bay which have also suffered instances of antisocial behaviour from large groups.