Police say they are launching a “summer crackdown” on antisocial behaviour – as traders describe being scared of “intimidating” crowds of youths.
Some businesses say they were forced to close when large numbers of young people descended on Broadstairs over the bank holiday weekend.
This week, traders described their fears when confronted by large groups of youths wreaking havoc in the town centre.
Salma Khalifa, of Albion Street’s Gemset, told KentOnline: “If you’re working in the shop by yourself, it is quite frightening.
“Although I haven’t personally had anyone come in and cause a problem, I have had young people stealing things from the shop.”
Akshit Patel, who runs Londis in the High Street, says youths targeted his shop and others on the Bank Holiday Monday and the following day.
“We had to close the business for a couple of hours because of the anti-social behaviour from the kids,” the 49-year-old said.
Akshit Patel, who runs Londis in the high street, has spoken about problems with anti-social behaviour in Broadstairs
“They are all underage, do not have ID and know they will not get served, so they just steal the alcohol.
“On the Saturday and Sunday, it was crowded and scary.”
Maria Goldfinch, who runs the New Old Bakehouse in the High Street, says the behaviour of groups of youths affected businesses all over town.
“We had them loitering outside, stealing from Tesco and Londis, and people being disruptive,” she said.
“My tea rooms suffered tremendously.”
Maria Goldfinch, who runs the New Old Bakehouse in the high street, has spoken about problems with anti-social behaviour in Broadstairs
Another business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said youths punched their mother’s car windscreen on the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend.
“On the Monday, because of looting other businesses had reported, I closed and lost a day’s trading,” they added.
The trader commended police for enforcing a dispersal order “fairly quickly” amid disruption in summer 2025.
“This year, I don’t think they were as prepared as they should have been,” they added.
“If they monitor social media, they might have been aware of what was going to happen and could have implemented a dispersal order quicker.”
Salma Khalifa, who works at Gemset in Albion Street, has spoken about problems with anti-social behaviour in Broadstairs
The chaos followed a “Broadstairs Biggest Link Up” event promoted by an influencer, which sparked backlash from residents.
Videos on TikTok showed trains crammed with young people heading for the coast, and footage later showed officers dispersing crowds at Viking Bay amid reports of underage drinking and shoplifting
In response to the packed trains, East Thanet MP Polly Billington suggests installing a ticket barrier at Broadstairs railway station could tackle fare evasion and help police identify “criminals and troublemakers”.
“This is something the police are calling for, and they have my full support,” the Labour MP said.
But businesses were divided over this when we spoke to them this week.
Polly Billington, MP for East Thanet, is calling for ticket barriers to be installed at Broadstairs railway station
Salma Khalifa said: “I come from London, and people dodge the barriers all the time.
“You need an increased presence at the same time.”
Maria Goldfinch says installing the gates would be a “waste of money”.
“We need police patrolling,” she said. “How do you know they won’t jump over the barriers?
“It is not going to stop kids coming in.”
Police were forced to intervene to tackle anti-social behaviour on Broadstairs beach over the bank holiday
But Mr Patel said: “It might help them have a bit more control.”
British Transport Police (BTP) says it does not have a routine, fixed presence at Broadstairs or Margate railway stations.
A spokesperson said: “Where intelligence or demand indicates an increased risk, BTP will work closely with partners, including Kent Police and Southeastern Railway, to provide an appropriate policing and security response or visible presence.”
South Eastern Railway’s safety, planning and performance director, Scott Brightwell, said that while ticket barriers can help tackle fare evasion, they are “not a standalone solution”.
“Installing them at an ungated station is a complex project that requires careful planning and funding approval,” he said.
An image from a TikTok reportedly showing a packed train which departed from Broadstairs during the bank holiday weekend. Picture: amisaccx / TikTok
“Our immediate focus at Broadstairs, as across the network, is tackling anti‑social behaviour with British Transport and Kent Police directly through visible enforcement and close partnership working.”
He said Southeastern “continually reviews” whether additional resources are needed at stations.
It is understood that a gated entrance would cost in the region of a seven-figure sum, and two would be needed at Broadstairs.
Kent Police say they have “robust plans” in place to tackle rowdy behaviour.
Last weekend (May 29 to 31), officers deployed to Margate and Broadstairs moved on 52 people and made eight arrests. Offences included refusing to comply with a dispersal order, possession with intent to supply drugs and various other public order offences.
Police were forced to intervene to tackle anti-social behaviour on Broadstairs beach over the bank holiday
The force’s crackdown includes plans for high-visibility patrols, targeted operations and the use of dispersal orders and other powers.
Chief Inspector Ian Swallow, district commander for Thanet, said: “We have robust plans in place to tackle weather-related antisocial behaviour that will inevitably occur, and it was pleasing to see how calm Margate and Broadstairs were last weekend in light of our ongoing work to disperse troublemakers from the area.
“Our officers were highly visible across the weekend and had many positive engagements with local people and business owners, who I would like to thank for their ongoing support.
“We are not complacent and know there are many more warm weekends ahead of us, but we are well prepared and will not tolerate any irresponsible behaviour that risks ruining the summer for the vast majority of law-abiding sunseekers.”
Last summer, Kent Police received 10,225 reports relating to antisocial behaviour, including multiple reports for the same incidents.
The reports equate to about eight per policing district per day, with the majority relating to nuisance gatherings, followed by drunken or rowdy behaviour and nuisance vehicles.