POLICE have issued a dispersal order in Lichfield city centre in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Granted under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, it gives officers the power to "disperse anyone for the purpose of or reducing the likelihood of members of the public in the locality being harassed, alarmed, distressed or the occurrence of crime and disorder".
It applies to the city centre area – including Beacon Park – until 3pm on Thursday (6th August).
Staffordshire Police said officers had seen an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour, particularly involving large groups of young people.
Inspector Melissa Byrne, from the Lichfield local policing team, said:
"We don’t take this type of behaviour lightly and we know that anti-social behaviour and associated criminality is having an effect on local people and businesses.
"We’re using all of the tools at our disposal to act on these concerns and to put a stop to those persistently causing fear and alarm in our communities.
"We’re urging parents and guardians in the area to make sure that young people know this order is in place over the weekend and to explain the consequences that persistent anti-social behaviour can have, both in respect of action taken against offenders and the impact their criminality can have on the local community."
Those failing to comply with the dispersal order will be committing a criminal offence and could be arrested – and officers can also return anyone under the age of 16 to their home address.
