Tackling antisocial behaviour – a message from Cllr Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Community

The council is proposing to introduce important rules to combat antisocial behaviour in Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

The new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) will be reviewed by the Cabinet when they meet on Thursday 24 July.  

The measures are being considered to help reduce antisocial behaviour in the district and reflect feedback from residents that feeling safe is a priority for them.  

There are seven activities included in the proposed PSPO: 

• Anti-social groups
• Misuse of public place 
• Using foul or abusive language within the hearing or sight of any other person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress by this
• Excreting bodily fluids 
• Consuming legal psychoactive substances and other legal intoxicants
• Causing humiliation or degradation
• Consuming alcohol

Cllr Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Community said: “Antisocial behaviour can have a damaging effect on our local community. We’ve sadly seen situations in our public spaces recently which have escalated and we know that local people, visitors and businesses want more to be done to tackle this.

“The proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) aims to reduce antisocial behaviour and provide the vital tools which are needed to intervene. Without this, the ability of the police to respond to crime and disorder is impacted and crime, in the form of antisocial behaviour, increases. 

“The specific behaviours referred to within the orders – including the reference to foul and abusive language – are all similar to the district’s previous PSPO which was in place between 2018 and 2024. They mirror the same restrictions in place across many other districts and boroughs, including in other parts of Kent and the south east. 

“To be clear, the restriction around language is not aimed at preventing free speech or swearing. Specifically the PSPO relates to “using foul or abusive language within the hearing or sight of another person who is likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress by this”. This particular restriction is being proposed to address a significant issue in the areas covered by the PSPO. Evidence to support this has been provided by police, Ward Councillors and residents as well as business owners.

“The enforcement of this measure is not subjective. It involves an objective test and any antisocial behaviour will be judged against the impact on the reasonable person.

“We sought to implement a PSPO in similar terms to the one that it is currently proposed, in the summer of last year. Following a threat of legal challenge to that process, we decided to gather further evidence which indicates that the introduction of a restriction to address this issue is proportionate. We have also carried out a comprehensive consultation. The public and stakeholder response has again indicated overwhelming support for all of the proposed restrictions.

“As a result we will consider the proposed order when the Cabinet meets on Thursday 24 July to carefully consider the results of consultation and take a view. Subject to approval, we will seek to implement this as soon as possible.”

You can watch a short video outlining the rationale behind the proposed PSPO on the council’s YouTube channel. 

The Cabinet report is available on the website.