Thank you to everyone who has got in touch about recent summer crime and antisocial behaviour in Broadstairs.
Thanet will always be a place that welcomes visitors from far and wide, but you’re absolutely right that there is no excuse for people abusing our hospitality by engaging in antisocial and drunken behaviour, parking illegally, stealing from local businesses, or leaving litter strewn across our beautiful beaches.
Last year, after scenes of serious disorder in Broadstairs, I hosted a public meeting with local residents, Kent Police, Southeastern Rail, British Transport Police and Thanet District Council. We left that meeting with commitments to tougher action and I welcome measures that have been put in place since then, including:
- additional policing resources and planning for Kent Police across our three towns on hot-spot dates in the calendar year
- increased patrols by British transport Police in Thanet
- tougher controls on train fare dodgers coming here to make trouble
- Kent Police have hired an additional 65 officers since the last election, as part of Labour’s commitment to restoring visible community policing
- All Thanet communities now have a named and accountable officer who can be directly contacted by the public to raise and respond to issues as they happen
I welcome that the police acted swiftly over the recent weekend in question to introduce additional patrols and dispersal orders in all three towns, confiscate alcohol and drugs, and arrest offenders who had been shoplifting from our local stores.
Despite the progress we have made, there is clearly a need to go further still to make sure those visiting do so responsibly and respectfully. We need to make sure that all possible measures are in place so Thanet has the capacity to deal with the strains that accompany the summer season – from waste disposal to crime and antisocial behaviour.
That’s why, as part of my continued efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour in the town, I am calling on Southeastern Railway to install ticket barriers at Broadstairs Train Station. This is something the local police are calling for, and I agree that it would make a real difference to helping them tackle these selfish individuals, deter troublemakers, and make sure our town continues to be somewhere the respectful majority can enjoy. Please do sign my petition calling on Southeastern to act by clicking here.
I have also written to the Home Secretary calling for more support for Thanet. You can read that letter by clicking here.
I remain in contact with both Thanet District Council and Kent Police and will be discussing possible further action over the coming days and weeks. I want to thank them for their hard work in keeping people safe over the scorching bank holiday weekend. And please rest assured that I will continue to work hard to make sure that our vital visitor economy does not come at the expense of those who call our three beautiful towns home.