How to report potential hazards

Please report potential hazards or unusual items such as canisters, drums or oil affected birds washed up on the beach to help the authorities deal with any problems quickly.

Emergencies

Coastguard, Ambulance, Police or Fire

Phone: 999

If someone appears to be in trouble in the water

Call 999 and ask for Coastguard

Non-emergency

 

Pollution

If the incident is on the beach, above high water mark:

Environmental Agency – (Shore based hazardous pollution )
Phone: 0800 807060

If the incident is in the sea, below high water mark:

HM Coastguard, Dover – (Shipping pollution/incidents)
Phone: 01304 210008

 

Injured animals and birds

If found stranded, injured or in distress on the beach, phone:

  • RSPCA: 0300 1234 999 (Injured birds/animals)
  • BDMLR: 01825 765546 (for marine wildlife)

If found dead/alive, please do not touch or try to move it, report to:

Thanet Coast Project: 01843 577672
(Out of office hours, call Thanet District Council on 01843 577000)

Take oil-affected sea birds to your local veterinary centres:

  • Birchington Veterinary Centre, 9 Minnis Road CT7 9SD Phone: 01843 845347
  • Thanet Vets Margate, College Road, Margate CT9 5TP Phone: 01843 226678
  • Companion Care Vets, Broadstairs – Inside Pets at Home, Westwood Road CT10 2RQ
  • Westgate Veterinary Centre, 88 St Mildreds Rd CT8 8RF Phone: 01843 833017
  • Briar House Veterinary Centre, 13-15 St Peters Rd, Broadstairs Phone: 01843 863395
  • PDSA Animal Hospital, 292 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 2PT Phone: 01843 269933
  • Plunketts Veterinary Surgery – 4 Princes Road, Ramsgate CT11 7SA Phone: 01843 591899
Fisheries

Illegal fishing at sea, abandoned fixed nets, or unauthorised commercial collecting.

Contact Kent & Essex IFCA: 01843 585310

Crime, incidents, suspicious activities, vandalism & anti-social behaviour

To report these incidents, call:

Kent Police Non Emergency reporting number: 101

Crime/Suspicious activity on the Kent coast: Kent Police (Project Kraken)

Anti-Social Behaviour (Thanet area): 01843 577888

Rubbish & Graffiti

If you find fly tipping or graffiti on the beach:

For Thanet: https://www.thanet.gov.uk/services/clean-streets/

or contact the relevant Local Authorities concerned – Local bylaws on the foreshore for contact details

Dogs

Owners are required to clean up after their dog in all public places. Several beaches are dog-free in the summer – look at our dog walking on the Thanet Coast advice or dog PSPOs (public space protection order) for details.

Contact Local Authorities – for local PSPOs on the foreshore.

Local bylaws (now PSPOs) on the foreshore

Your local authority is responsible for local bylaws or public space protection orders (PSPOs); but there are also voluntary codes of conduct: Thanet Coastal Codes

Note: in some cases a criminal offence may also have been committed, and the police may need to be involved. However, you should leave this decision to the Council.

Thanet District Council: 01843 577000

Dover District Council: 01304 821199

Canterbury City Council: 01227 862000

Foreshore – Thanet Council (9am-5pm Monday – Friday): 01843 577274

Foreshore – Whitstable to Reculver (Canterbury): 01227 266719

Other useful numbers

112 Emergency number (any mobile around the world)

111 Non-emergency – Medical

101 Non-emergency – Police