Overview
- Thanet District Council approved a three-year Public Spaces Protection Order last week that takes effect on Wednesday 1 July and imposes a year‑round ban on public drinking in Margate and Ramsgate town centres.
- The order extends restrictions into parts of Broadstairs and Cliftonville West and gives officers the power to require people to hand over alcohol, issue fixed penalties of about £100, or seek prosecution with fines up to £1,000.
- Kent Police say they have issued more than 250 community protection warnings and notices so far this year and made dozens of arrests for alcohol‑related anti‑social behaviour.
- Incidents this year, including a beach fight on 24 June that led to an arrest and summer bans, plus reports of shop closures, thefts and assaults, prompted councillors and the local MP to back the PSPO as a tool to protect residents and businesses.
- Authorities plan to focus enforcement on organised social‑media 'link‑ups' and repeat troublemakers while stressing that enforcement will be used as a last resort and that the measure could change visitor behaviour and local trading patterns.