Women scream in terror as fights erupt in 'lawless' Ramsgate
Published: 15:25, 19 October 2021
Updated: 19:15, 19 October 2021
Residents were woken by women screaming in terror amid a mass brawl in a "lawless" town.
Videos captured revellers throwing punches at each other as they spilled out onto Ramsgate's seafront.
Fights erupt near Ramsgate harbour
One clip shows a group fighting in Harbour Street - with punches being thrown by drunken yobs.
Another shows a duo narrowly avoiding being hit by a car travelling down Harbour Parade before another scuffle erupts.
One resident, who did not want to be named, witnessed and videoed the chaotic incident early Sunday morning.
"I heard really dramatic screams of terror from some women," he said. "I’ve heard screams here before but not like those and that woke me up.
"I grabbed my phone and opened the window.
"What I saw was a group of young men in a scrum and it looked like one man was holding another while a further one was punching him at full force and with speed."
He described the area as "lawless" at night as brawls regularly happen and has concerns about plans by Thanet District Council to provide better pedestrian access in the area.
The local authority is currently consulting on reducing the amount of cars in roads across Ramsgate.
The proposed changes aim to increase the number of people who are visiting the harbour and seafront to also walk into the retail areas and town centre.
"I’ve heard screams here before but not like those and that woke me up..."
"It makes no sense to increase the flow of people hanging around partying at night if there is not a police presence to control it," the resident added.
"I’ve seen fights and trouble, heard stories but never witnessed a night that was ever out of control as that night was."
The resident reported the incidents - which happened shortly after 2am on Sunday morning - to police.
A spokesman for the force confirmed they were called to the group a people were fighting in Harbour Street shortly before 2.30am on Sunday.
"Officers attended at 3am and the group had left the area," they said. "Inquiries were made at the scene and no offences or injuries were reported."
The public can comment on Thanet District Council's proposals by completing an online survey by 5pm on November 26.
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Brad Harper