Mass brawl on Broadstairs beach prompts locals to consider 'taking a stand'

Metro

6 days ago

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This is the moment a brawl erupted on a Kent beach with two topless men trading blows while a baying crowd circles them.
The video captured the brutes swinging at each other on the Broadstairs boardwalk as they were surrounded by dozens of screaming youths.
Some of the crowd can be seen climbing on nearby beach huts to get a better view of the fight, while others took selfies and egged on the brawlers.
Police arrived on the litter-strewn seafront once the fight had eventually dispersed.
The onlooker who filmed the altercation wrote on social media that there was 'no sign of any law and order' in the area.
'Is it time for the locals to form a groups of volunteers to take matters into our own hands and get these f****** urchins dealt with,' he asked.
'The police just drive [around] in cars totally ineffective.
'We can't tolerate this b******* and if we don't make some kind of stand then people will stop coming here.'
The fight, on June 21, came just a day after Kent Police announced it had implemented a Section 34 dispersal order in Broadstairs to 'disrupt antisocial behaviour'.
The order gives police additional powers to instruct people to leave an area and anyone who returns risks being arrested.
A spokesperson for Kent Police told Mail Online officers were called to a report of a disturbance involving approximately 50 people, shortly before 3pm. A 17-year-old boy was arrested and taken into custody.
'Later that day, the teenager was charged with assaulting a police officer and was bailed with conditions to attend Maidstone Youth Court at a later date.'
In a press release online, the force said the dispersal order was put in place 'due to ongoing concerns relating to issues caused by a small minority of young people in some public areas, including the town centre and beaches. These have included under-age street drinking, fighting and reports of aggressive behaviour towards staff at shops.'
Locals have been calling on Thanet Council and Kent Police to tackle a 'growing tide of antisocial abuse' in the Broadstairs area. More Trending
A Change.org petition, with almost 5,000 signatures at the time of writing, says since the beginning of last week, the town had seen a 'surge in violent crime', including 'underage street drinking, fighting on the beaches and at at the train station, shoplifting, and vandalism'.
It calls for enhanced police powers, extended dispersal zones throughout the summer months, stronger sanctions for repeat offenders and increased police patrols.
One resident responded to the petition, writing: 'Local people don't expect this disgraceful behaviour. Broadstairs residents [deserve] better!'
Another commented: 'Broadstairs will totally lose its reputation as a family resort.'
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