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Update for Birchington and Westgate on Sea |
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Dear residents of Westgate on Sea and Birchington, It has been another busy week for policing across the Thanet District owing to the warm weather and influx of visitors to our coastal communities. I am pleased to report that we have had a low number of incidents reported in Westgate on Sea and Birchington. Please see below a summary of my activities over the past week:
Westgate on Sea I have continued to focus on concerns around anti-social behaviour in the town. I have undertaken foot patrol around Station Road and the surrounding areas, engaged with residents and businesses to explore their concerns, and hopefully some of you have seen me as I have been doing my rounds. I have also been liaising with Thanet District Council with regards to vacant properties which are a catalyst for some of the anti-social behaviour we are experiencing in the area. We are in the early stages of organising a Community Speed Watch briefing event with an aim to restart a scheme in Westgate. Road safety and speeding is often raised as a concern by residents, and this is an invaluable long-term preventative measure. The briefing is scheduled for September, and a date and location will be confirmed shortly. Volunteers are crucial for a successful Speed Watch scheme, and so please give some thought as to whether this is something you would be able to assist. A reminder that there is a Ward Surgery at Westgate Town Council Offices at 11:00 hours on Friday 12th June 2026. This is a drop-in session where you can speak to me about any crime or anti-social behaviour concerns you have.
Birchington We have received contact from several residents regarding a homeless individual around Minnis Bay. Considerable work has been undertaken between Kent Police and KCC Warden Jason Gordon to secure assistance for this individual recognising that he needs support for housing. I am aware that some behaviour associated with him has been a cause of distress for residents and measures are currently being implemented to address this. I have been investigating anti-social behaviour in Holton Close, Birchington following complaints from residents. As part of this I have held a meeting with Thanet District Council to develop a joint action plan. I have delivered Residential Perception Surveys to addresses in the area to capture experiences of anti-social behaviour. If you have any information or wish to speak with me about this matter, I would be keen to hear from you. On Friday 5th June 2026 whilst undertaking foot patrol along Station Road, I seized suspected counterfeit tobacco which I had observed being sold to a customer in a retail premises. This will be referred to Kent County Council Trading Standards for consideration of any enforcement action that is appropriate. Lastly, Kent Police has adopted a robust approach to crime and anti-social behaviour experienced over the past few weeks. This has typically been focussed in our main coastal towns, but is reflective of our commitment to keeping residents, businesses and visitors safe across Thanet. We have seen an uplift of policing resources to the district to assist with demand, have used dispersal powers effectively, issued Community Protection Warnings, and made several arrests. An article reflective of the above is included in the hyperlink below (click the link and it will take you to the article). Summer crackdown on antisocial behaviour | Kent Police
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