Kent Police seize multiple nuisance vehicles in Minster-on-Sea antisocial behaviour crackdown

Enforcement Powers and Legal Framework

Police have powers to seize vehicles under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 when they are being used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance to the public. Officers can also seize vehicles for associated road traffic offences such as having no insurance or driving without a valid licence.

The enforcement action in Minster-on-Sea follows a pattern of vehicle seizures across Swale during 2026, with neighbourhood police teams previously seizing e-scooters and other nuisance vehicles as part of broader antisocial behaviour enforcement. Kent Police have been using section 59 warnings and seizures to address recurring issues with nuisance driving, off-road bikes, and illegal e-scooter use in public places.

Multi-Agency Approach to Community Safety

Swale Borough Council operates alongside Kent Police through the Swale Community Safety Partnership to address antisocial behaviour using both enforcement and prevention measures. The council has its own vehicle seizure processes for vehicles involved in environmental offences such as fly-tipping, indicating the range of powers available to tackle vehicle-related antisocial behaviour.

Community Safety Units work as part of Kent Police’s neighbourhood policing structure, combining high-visibility patrols with targeted enforcement in areas where complaints or intelligence indicate problems with antisocial behaviour. The focus on Minster-on-Sea indicates the operation was a response to local reports or identified patterns of nuisance vehicle use in the area.

Ongoing Antisocial Behaviour Strategy

The seizures form part of ongoing action to tackle antisocial behaviour, indicating a planned and sustained enforcement approach rather than a single operation. Antisocial behaviour under UK law covers conduct that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to individuals, including dangerous or nuisance use of motor vehicles and e-scooters.

Kent Police use the My Community Voice platform to communicate with residents about neighbourhood policing activities and to encourage reporting of antisocial behaviour incidents. The force has indicated that vehicle-related antisocial behaviour remains a priority for local policing teams across the county.

Key Points

• Kent Police seized multiple nuisance vehicles in Minster-on-Sea on Friday 29 May 2026 as part of ongoing antisocial behaviour enforcement
• The operation involved officers from Swale Community Safety Unit conducting targeted patrols in response to community concerns
• Police have legal powers to seize vehicles causing alarm or distress under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002

Response to Local Concerns

Residents across Swale can expect continued high-visibility police operations targeting nuisance vehicles as part of the force’s ongoing antisocial behaviour strategy. Kent Police encourage residents to report incidents involving nuisance vehicles through 999 for emergencies, 101 for non-emergencies, or through online reporting systems. Vehicle owners should be aware that illegally used e-scooters and other vehicles causing distress to the community face seizure, with riders potentially facing fines, penalty points, and permanent vehicle confiscation.