Police brace for seaside town anarchy as they issue dispersal orders | UK | News

Police have issued dispersal orders to a number of seaside resorts after recent scenes of disorder involving hundreds of young people raised fears of increased anti-social behaviour. Officers in three Kent coastal towns were given increased powers for the weekend, while similar measures were recently introduced in Southend, Essex, following concerns about large groups of young people gathering in the city.

The orders came into force in Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate at 3pm on Friday and will remain in force until 3pm on Sunday. Under the restrictions, officers can order people to leave designated areas and arrest those who return after dispersing.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “The dispersal order gives our officers additional powers to instruct people to leave certain areas and anyone who returns after dispersing risks arrest.”

The move comes just days after hundreds of young people flocked to Broadstairs over the Bank Holiday weekend; This caused disruptions that forced some businesses to close and led to a massive police response.

Large crowds gathered on the beach and around the city centre, and many were reported to have been drinking alcohol.

This influx appears to have been organized via social media, with one TikTok user describing the gathering as “Broadstairs’ Biggest Beach Hookup”.

Police did not directly link this weekend’s dispersal orders to the Broadstairs incident, but the powers are intended to deter anti-social behavior and allow officers to intervene quickly if problems arise.

In Broadstairs, the order covers the area between Lanthorne Road and Seacroft Road, extending inland to Salisbury Avenue, Osborne Road and St Peter’s Park Road.

The controlled area of ​​Margate covers the coast between Hartsdown Road and Trinity Square; The southern boundary runs along Churchfields and All Saints’ Boulevard.

In Ramsgate, the order covers the area bounded by Park Road and Grange Road, as well as the harbor area and the coast to the footpath leading to Victoria Parade.

The crackdown follows similar action in Southend, where Essex Police issued a dispersal order covering large parts of the city after intelligence suggested large groups of young people were planning to gather.

Chief Inspector Chris Bradford said: “The order means we can deal quickly with anyone who is not behaving.

“The South is a family vacation destination and large groups can be loud and disruptive. We will not allow a small minority to spoil the atmosphere for everyone who wants to enjoy the city.”

A previous dispersal order in Southend led to 13 arrests and more than 230 stop-and-frisks.

Essex Police said more than 600 people were prevented from traveling to the city by rail during the operation, while officers seized three knives and two gas-operated air guns.

Ch Supt Bradford added: “We are determined to ensure Southend remains a place people can enjoy as a popular family holiday destination.

“We know that large groups can occasionally cause disruption and we have acted on intelligence about potential problems or crime arising. We will not allow a small minority to spoil the atmosphere for the many people who want to enjoy the city responsibly.”

The latest measures mean police officers in both Kent and Essex will have more powers to tackle disorder as thousands of visitors head to the coast this weekend.