Dispersal orders are being put in place across parts of Thanet and Whitstable this weekend, granting officers additional powers to deter nuisance behaviour during the warm weather.
From 2.00pm on Friday 3 July 2026, anyone suspected of behaving in an antisocial manner in Broadstairs, the Westwood Cross shopping centre, central Ramsgate, or Margate town centre will be ordered to move on or face arrest if they fail to do so. The same powers apply to anyone acting antisocially on or near the beaches and at local railway stations, whilst a separate order covering Whitstable town centre, its railway station, and the seafront will come into effect from 4.00pm on the same day.
The dispersal orders are expected to remain in force for 48 hours. Under the legislation, anyone who returns to an area after being asked to leave risks being taken into custody. Police officers also have the authority to seize items being used to cause a nuisance, such as loud music equipment.
Superintendent Pete Steenhuis from Kent Police said:
“Our coastal towns are wonderful places to enjoy the warm, sunny weather and we want to keep them that way. The overwhelming majority of people who choose to socialise in these areas do so respectfully and responsibly, and anyone who would seek to spoil it for others should expect to be dealt with swiftly and robustly.”