McDonalds joint working meeting re ASB motorists

Today, officers from Ashford Community Safety Unit met with the management team at McDonald's, Chart Road, Ashford, to discuss ongoing concerns relating to vehicles attending the premises and engaging in disruptive anti-social behaviour. The meeting was requested by McDonald's management due to the impact that this behaviour is having on local residents, nearby businesses, and other customers using the site.

Going forward, where motorists attend the location, whether as customers or otherwise, and are found to be driving in a manner that is anti-social, causes alarm, distress or annoyance to others, or presents a risk to public safety, enforcement action will be considered. This may include the use of Section 59 Police Reform Act 2002 warnings and vehicle seizure powers, as well as the issuing of Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) and Community Protection Notices (CPNs) under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The site benefits from comprehensive CCTV coverage, providing opportunities to identify offending vehicles and drivers. This evidence may be used to support enforcement action either at the time of the incident or retrospectively where police officers are unable to attend immediately due to competing operational demands. Motorists should therefore be aware that action can still be taken even when incidents are not witnessed directly by police officers at the scene.

Kent Police continues to utilise Community Protection Warnings and Community Protection Notices as effective tools to address persistent anti-social behaviour. These measures have been used across the county to tackle issues including nuisance driving, street drinking, and disorderly behaviour. A Community Protection Notice is a formal legal notice requiring an individual to cease anti-social behaviour and take reasonable steps to remedy its effects. Failure to comply with a CPN is a criminal offence and may result in prosecution, a fine, or other enforcement action.

In June 2026, amendments introduced by the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removed the requirement for police officers and PCSOs to issue a prior Section 59 warning before exercising vehicle seizure powers. Motorists should therefore be aware that, even where any previous Section 59 warning has expired, there is no requirement for a fresh warning to be issued before a vehicle can be seized where the legal grounds exist.

Ashford Community Safety Unit will continue to work closely with McDonald's management and partner agencies to address concerns at this location and ensure it remains a safe environment for residents, customers, and the wider community.