More than 200 suspected troublemakers dispersed in Thanet in two months

More than 200 suspected troublemakers have been dispersed in Thanet since the start of the summer, as enforcement activity to deter antisocial behaviour continues throughout the warm weather spell.

Between 1 May and 1 July 2026, officers in Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate recorded 219 dispersal notices requiring suspects to either leave an area or face arrest if they refused or returned later.

Fourteen Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) were issued in the same period and 17 home visits to reported offenders took place, with 42 letters sent to households as part of the clampdown on nuisance behaviour.

Dispersal orders

Dispersal orders are in place again across parts of Thanet from 2pm on Friday 10 July, granting additional powers to officers to move on anyone suspected of committing an offence.

Officers are also able to seize items such as loud music equipment if they are used in a manner that is deemed to be antisocial.

Community engagement

In addition to the legislation, officers have delivered presentations to more than 1,200 students through community engagement with schools to inform young people about the risks of becoming criminalised through antisocial behaviour.

Further work with local partner agencies has included through Community Alcohol Partnerships to combat underage sales across Thanet, and collaborative work with British Transport Police, Southeastern and Network Rail, to tackle nuisance behaviour on trains and at train stations over the summer.

District Commander for Thanet, Chief Inspector Ian Swallow, 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.’