Six people were
arrested after a crackdown on anti-social behaviour and drug use at
two Thanet railway stations.

British Transport Police officers targeted platforms and station buildings in Margate and Westgate-on-Sea last Thursday (January 21).

They were joined by a sniffer dog called Buster, who can detect
any passengers carrying illegal substances.

The operation saw four people arrested and given an £80 fixed
penalty notice for the possession of class B drugs, while two
others were arrested and cautioned for persistent fare evasion.

In total, five arrests were made at Margate and one at
Westgate-on-Sea, where a dispersal zone - allowing police to break
up groups involved in anti-social behaviour, bar individuals for a
fixed time period or take youngsters home if they are out late - is
currently in force.

Insp Ed Walden of British Transport Police said: “We launched
this initiative after receiving reports of youths loitering at the
two stations in the evenings, drinking alcohol, using illegal
substances and generally being abusive to passengers and rail
staff.

“This sort of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and makes
people feel uncomfortable and unsafe in what is otherwise a very
safe environment.”

Rail enforcement officers also issued 12 penalty fares to
passengers caught travelling without a valid ticket or found to be
paying the incorrect fare.

Insp Walden urged local residents to report all instances of anti-social behaviour to British Transport Police by calling 0800 405040 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.