Kent Police issued 219 dispersal notices across Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate between 1 May and 1 July 2026 as part of a summer enforcement drive targeting antisocial behaviour in the district.
The Scale of the Operation
More than three notices a day. That’s what 219 dispersal notices across two months actually looks like when you break it down — handed out across Thanet’s three coastal towns as Kent Police mounted what amounts to one of its more concerted summer pushes in the district. The figures cover 1 May to 1 July 2026, and officers didn’t stop at moving people on.
Alongside the dispersal notices came 14 Community Protection Warnings, 17 home visits to reported offenders and 42 letters sent to households where behaviour had been flagged — indicating that enforcement activity extended beyond public spaces and into the wider community.
What the Powers Actually Allow
Under dispersal orders, officers can instruct suspected offenders to leave a designated area. Come back — or simply refuse to go — and arrest follows. Officers can also seize items being used antisocially, including loud music equipment.
Fresh dispersal orders were put back in place across parts of Thanet from 2pm on Friday 10 July 2026. Not winding down, then.
Beyond the Badge: Schools and Partnerships
It wasn’t purely enforcement. Kent Police said officers delivered presentations to more than 1,200 students through school engagement work running alongside the dispersal activity — the idea being that you don’t just move a problem on, you try to head it off. The force also worked with Community Alcohol Partnerships, British Transport Police, Southeastern and Network Rail to tackle nuisance behaviour across the district.
That’s a broad coalition. Trains, stations, seafronts and school corridors all feature in the picture, which tells you something about how widely the problem spreads when the weather turns warm and the towns fill up.
What Officers and Residents Are Saying
Chief Inspector Ian Swallow, District Commander for Thanet, said: “We are proud of our coastal towns, which understandably draw large crowds during the summer months and which are wonderful places to enjoy the warm, sunny weather. We will use everything within our powers to ensure the small minority of people intent on causing trouble here are held to account. Our enforcement action and work in the local community is driving results and we will continue to keep measures in place to ensure those spending the summer in Thanet can enjoy themselves safely. We appreciate the positive feedback we have received from members of the local community in regard to our increased high visibility patrols, and would like to assure residents, visitors and local businesses of the extensive work that we continue to undertake to keep Thanet a great place to live, visit and work.”
Kent Police said it had received positive feedback from local residents about the increased visible patrols. But the reintroduction of dispersal orders from 10 July makes clear the pressure on the area isn’t easing — not yet, anyway, not mid-summer.
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Key Takeaways
- 219 dispersal notices were issued across Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate between 1 May and 1 July 2026, alongside 14 Community Protection Warnings, 17 home visits and 42 letters to households
- Dispersal powers allow officers to remove suspected offenders from an area and seize items such as loud music equipment if used antisocially — with arrest as the consequence for non-compliance
- More than 1,200 students received school presentations as part of a prevention effort running alongside the enforcement activity
What This Means for Kent Residents
If you’re heading to Broadstairs, Margate or Ramsgate this summer, expect a visible police presence — that’s deliberate. Kent Police said the increased patrols are intended to help residents, visitors and local businesses feel safer during the busier warm-weather months. Dispersal orders remain active in parts of Thanet from 10 July 2026, meaning officers can still move people on or make arrests if behaviour warrants it. Anyone with concerns about antisocial behaviour in the district can report it to Kent Police online or by calling 101.