Over 350 people dispersed during antisocial behaviour crackdown

More than 350 potential troublemakers were sent home from coastal towns in east Kent as part of a warm weather crackdown on antisocial behaviour.

Between May and August 2026, officers in Thanet recorded over 280 dispersal notices requiring suspects to either leave an area or face arrest if they refused or returned later. Around 70 were recorded in Herne Bay and Whitstable.

More than 40 Community Protection Notices (CPNs) were also issued in Thanet, helping to deter the recipients from carrying out any further nuisance behaviour, whilst there were also more than 40 arrests and eight vehicle seizures.

Hundreds of other people were also informally dispersed from beaches and other coastal locations when officers attended to break up fights, seize alcohol and respond to other reported incidents of disorder.

Positive feedback

Chief Inspector Ian Swallow, District Commander for Thanet, said:

‘We made it very clear before the summer that there is no excuse for committing antisocial behaviour and that we would tackle it head-on. Through the widespread use of preventative orders and arrests, we were able to keep disorder in our coastal towns and on our beaches to a minimum. ‘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 that tackling antisocial behaviour is a year-round commitment that we will continue to undertake. ‘The vast majority of people who go out to enjoy our beautiful and historic coastal towns do so responsibly. As our actions over the last few months have demonstrated, we take robust action against those who do not.’

In addition to the use of arrests and preventative orders, officers also 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, and collaborative work with British Transport Police, Southeastern and Network Rail to tackle nuisance behaviour on trains and at railway stations.