Dispersal orders imposed in Broadstairs and Margate to tackle antisocial behaviour

According to Kent Police, the orders are being used to address underage street drinking, fighting, criminal damage and aggressive behaviour directed at shop and restaurant staff. Under Section 34 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, officers can direct individuals to leave a designated area; anyone who returns within the period specified risks arrest.

Kent Police figures show the scale of enforcement activity in Thanet. Between 1 May and 1 July, the force used 219 dispersal orders across Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate, according to statistics cited by BBC News. In one 48-hour enforcement period, 23 dispersals were completed across Thanet, with 125 recorded over the preceding three weeks — 58 in Broadstairs, 56 in Margate and 10 in Ramsgate. Over one bank holiday weekend operation, Kent Police reported six arrests and nearly 40 people moved on under dispersal orders.

Thanet District Council has separately introduced Public Space Protection Orders, including year-round alcohol bans in Margate and Ramsgate town centres. Previous operations have included high-visibility patrols and enhanced officer presence at railway stations serving the area. Kent Police have acknowledged that only a minority of people cause the problems driving enforcement activity.

The precise start and end times and exact boundaries of the current orders in Broadstairs and Margate have not been independently verified from available official sources.

Key information

• Anyone directed to leave an area under a dispersal order must comply and must not return within the period specified by officers.
• Anyone witnessing ongoing antisocial behaviour or a crime in progress should call 999; non-emergency reports can be made via the Kent Police online reporting tool.