Council targets street drinking hot spots with Kent Police

Community Safety Officers from Thanet District Council, with officers from Kent Police, have been out on the streets this month raising awareness and enforcing the district’s Alcohol Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

On Wednesday 5 June, and again on Wednesday 13 June, a group of more than 15 officers, from Thanet District Council and Kent Police, targeted areas in Ramsgate and Margate town centres that are known drinking hotspots.

The  purpose of the activity was specifically to address alcohol-related, anti-social behaviour. In the course of both days the following took place:

• 24  formal warnings given
• 29 people surrendered alcohol to officers
• 6 young people were dealt with under different powers
• 1 fixed penalty notice (FPN) fine was issued for failure to comply with the Public Spaces Protection Order

Cllr Lesley Ann Game, Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods said:
“Tackling alcohol-related, anti-social behaviour and cracking down on the small minority of people making a nuisance is a top priority. Local residents, businesses and visitors to the district shouldn’t have to put up with anti-social drinking. We hope that by actively enforcing the PSPO which came into force last November, people will clearly see that this type of behaviour is not acceptable and won’t be tolerated. ”

Sergeant James Ross from the Thanet Community Safety Unit said:
“We are pleased to work collaboratively with our partner agencies on operations like this, which really helps to tackle important issues raised by local residents.

“Street drinking and other types of anti-social behaviour can be very destructive to those who live and work nearby. Whilst this behaviour is usually caused by a minority, we know the impact it can have on the community and will do everything we can to reduce the problem.”

Throughout the summer, officers will continue to proactively deal with street drinking and any anti-social behaviour across Thanet.