Kent Police responded rapidly to reports of antisocial behaviour in Broadstairs and Margate, resulting in several arrests and the dispersal of large gatherings.
While the vast majority of visitors who travelled to the coastal towns on Wednesday 24 June 2026 enjoyed the warm weather responsibly, isolated pockets of disorder unfortunately broke out.
The first major disturbance occurred at around 5.35pm when authorities were notified of a fight on the beach at Viking Bay in Broadstairs. The altercation involved a small group of people and attracted a crowd of onlookers. Officers quickly attended the scene and arrested three suspects on suspicion of assault: an 18-year-old man from London, an 18-year-old man from Swanley, and a 16-year-old boy from Dartford. A man in his 20s sustained a cut to his head during the incident, and enquiries to establish the full circumstances remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, patrols in Margate were called to reports of further fighting on the local beach. Officers arrived to disperse the crowds and, at around 7.35pm, arrested an 18-year-old man from London who was believed to have been throwing punches at numerous people. Although he initially attempted to flee from officers on foot, he was caught a short time later and taken into custody. Shortly after, police also responded to a disturbance at Margate’s railway station, where several people, including a security guard, were reportedly assaulted. This incident led to the arrest of another 18-year-old man from London, who was taken into custody on suspicion of affray.
Body-worn video footage to accompany this story can be accessed via the Kent Police YouTube page.