Police have imposed dispersal orders across a string of seaside resorts after recent scenes of disorder involving hundreds of teenagers raised fears of further anti-social behaviour. Officers in three Kent coastal towns have been handed enhanced powers for the weekend, while similar measures were recently deployed in Southend in Essex following concerns about large groups of youths gathering in the city.

The orders came into force across Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate at 3pm on Friday and will remain in place until 3pm on Sunday. Under the restrictions, officers can order people to leave designated areas and arrest those who return after being dispersed.

A Kent Police spokesperson said: "The dispersal order grants our officers additional powers to instruct people to leave specific areas, and anyone who returns after being dispersed risks being arrested."

The move comes days after hundreds of teenagers descended on Broadstairs during the Bank Holiday weekend, creating disruption that forced some businesses to close and prompted a major police response.

Large crowds gathered on the beach and around the town centre, with many reportedly drinking alcohol.

The influx appeared to have been organised through social media, where one TikTok user described the gathering as a "Broadstairs Biggest Beach Link-up".

Police have not directly linked this weekend's dispersal orders to the Broadstairs incident, but the powers are intended to deter anti-social behaviour and allow officers to intervene quickly where problems arise.

In Broadstairs, the order covers the area between Lanthorne Road and Seacroft Road, extending inland to Salisbury Avenue, Osborne Road and St Peter's Park Road.

Margate's controlled zone includes the seafront between Hartsdown Road and Trinity Square, with the southern boundary running along Churchfields and All Saints' Avenue.

In Ramsgate, the order covers the area bordered by Park Road and Grange Road, as well as the harbour perimeter and beachfront up to the path leading to Victoria Parade.

The crackdown follows similar action in Southend, where Essex Police introduced dispersal orders covering large parts of the city after intelligence suggested large groups of young people were planning to gather.

Chief Superintendent Chris Bradford said: "The order means we can quickly deal with anyone who's not behaving.

"Southend is a family resort, and large groups can be loud and disruptive. We won't allow a tiny minority to spoil the atmosphere for everyone else who wants to enjoy the city."

A previous dispersal order in Southend led to 13 arrests and more than 230 stop-and-searches.

Essex Police said more than 600 people were prevented from travelling to the city by rail during the operation, while officers seized three knives and two gas-powered air weapons.

Ch Supt Bradford added: "We're committed to ensuring Southend remains a place people can enjoy as a popular family resort.

"We know that large groups can, at times, cause disruption, and we acted on intelligence about potential issues or offences arising. We will not allow a small minority to spoil the atmosphere for the many people who want to enjoy the city responsibly."

The latest measures mean officers in both Kent and Essex will have enhanced powers to tackle disorder as thousands of visitors head to the coast this weekend.