Dispersal Orders In Place For New Year's Eve

Officers policing New Year celebrations in Swale’s town centres have been granted extra powers to prevent crime.

Dispersal orders are in place in Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheerness in an effort to combat any antisocial behaviour and criminal activity related to the night-time economy.

The orders will be in place from 4pm today (Wednesday 31st December) New Year’s Eve and will run until 4pm tomrrow (1st January 2026) New Year’s Day.

In Sittingbourne, the order encompasses the town centre between the Retail Park, Dover Street, Avenue of Remembrance, and Bell Road up to the Eurolink Way roundabout.

In Faversham, the order extends from the Quay to the railway station, with the area bordered by Newton Road and South Road.

In Sheerness, the area covered includes Tesco, Broadway up to the junction with Richmond Street and the High Street up to and including the Bridge Road roundabouts.

The order gives officers additional powers to move on anyone causing a nuisance and, if necessary, arrest those who subsequently return to the area. Cars or motorbikes used in an antisocial or dangerous manner will be seized. 

Increased stop and search powers are also enabled by the enacting of dispersal orders by Kent Police.

Chief Inspector Vanessa Foster told SFM News: "We are committed to ensuring residents and visitors feel safe when out and about and we will not tolerate intimidating or illegal behaviour. Officers will be patrolling the area and anyone being disorderly or found causing a nuisance will be required to leave. Those who choose to return once dispersed can expect to be detained. We hope everyone has fun tonight and we're putting these orders in place to make sure all those celebrating have an enjoyable and safe time out in our town centres."

Kent Police have confirmed anybody who wishes to report instances of antisocial behaviour should report it online via the Kent Police website or, if a crime is in progress, call 999.