A crackdown on anti-social issues is moving into Ramsgate today as Operation Clean Sweep targets the area around two towerblocks in the town.

The district council-led operation focuses on Trove Court, Kennedy House, Newcastle Hill and surrounding roads.

It involves officers from Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Kent Trading Standards and the Border and Immigration Agency, and will concentrate on two specific issues.

Within council accommodation in the area, inspections will be carried out of properties to check for any damage or any signs of tampering with utilities, such as gas or electricity. Tenants and leaseholders will also be able to raise any issues face to face with staff from the council’s housing team.

Elsewhere, planning enforcement officers will be looking at the use of buildings in the area, while environmental health officers will be at businesses, checking on food safety and ensuring that trade waste licences are up to date.

Clean-up squads to tackle dumped rubbish and graffiti will also be in the area.

Cllr Shirley Tomlinson, Thanet council cabinet member for commercial and environmental services, said: “When we started these crackdowns, we said that we would extend them to other parts of Thanet that had issues that needed tackling.

“That’s exactly what we’re doing today and, if the problems we’re looking to deal with don’t improve, our officers will be coming back again.”

Cllr Zita Wiltshire, cabinet member for housing, said: “The council is not prepared to tolerate anti-social behaviour in its properties and will take action to deal with the problem.

“Over the next few days, we’ll be sending out a tough message to people that we won’t let them ruin other people’s lives.

“Operation Clean Sweep will give our residents the chance to talk to our housing team about any concerns they have and we’ll then be taking action to deal with those concerns.”