New powers to tackle antisocial behaviour launch across Thanet

Cabinet members have approved a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) designed to curb antisocial behaviour and safeguard public spaces across Thanet.

The order, which successfully came into effect on Wednesday 1 July 2026, follows overwhelming backing from local residents, businesses, and community groups during a recent 30-day public consultation. The targeted restrictions will remain in place for a period of three years.

Action was taken after data from Kent Police and the council’s Community Safety team highlighted growing challenges with alcohol-related nuisance.

Key restrictions now in place

The council is taking an incremental, proportionate approach to target the most heavily affected areas. The clear boundary lines ensure enforcement teams can act effectively:

• Margate and Ramsgate High Streets: A year-round blanket ban on the consumption of alcohol within these restricted town centre zones. Premises licensed for the consumption of alcohol on site (including authorised outdoor seating areas) are exempt.
• District-wide hotspots (Margate, Cliftonville West, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs): Strict prohibitions on alcohol-related antisocial behaviour, failing to surrender alcohol containers when requested by an authorised officer, and public urination or defecation.

Signs will be placed in the restricted areas to remind people of the rules and clearly explain that failure to comply with a request to stop doing any of the restricted activities could result in a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice or prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Councillor Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “I’m very pleased that Cabinet has approved this new antisocial behaviour Public Spaces Protection Order. It will help our safety teams and the police by adding an effective tool to address some of the behaviours and persistent issues that have caused concern, for residents and businesses, and impacted our towns. 

“I’d like to thank everyone again for sharing their feedback. We have listened closely to what people told us and the level of support for this decision was clear.  While enforcement is always a last resort, having these measures in place should help improve our capacity to deal with these issues that can really impact people’s quality of life. Our communities deserve safe, clean, and welcoming public spaces.”

Full details of the PSPO will be published on the website.