Concerns over anti-social behaviour prompt dispersal order in March park

A dispersal order was put in place in March in a bid to reduce crime and disorder at the weekend.
The measure was taken by the local policing team in response to reports of anti-social behaviour and potential violence on Friday night.

The order, which is a temporary measure, enables police to move people on from an area where they suspect their behaviour is anti-social.

The authority covered the entirety of West End Park, for a12- hour period, beginning at 8.50pm.

The order was granted under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and allows for police community support officers and police officers to direct a person to leave the area if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that their behaviour has caused, or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to members of the public.

Failure to comply with the order could have resulted in arrest.