Officers enforce dispersal order in Winsford to crackdown on increased reports of ASB

As part of continued efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour in the Winsford area officers have authorised a dispersal order covering the town centre area.

The order came into force at 3.30pm today, Saturday 25 February, and will remain in place for the next 48-hours.

Dispersal orders are implemented under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, they provide police with the extra powers to break up groups of two or more people, where they believe their behaviour is causing a nuisance, harassment or distress.

Officers can move individuals out of the specified area and stop them from returning for up to 24 hours.

If you are ordered to leave the Dispersal Order area and come back into the areas marked on the map, you are likely to be arrested.

Inspector Scott Fletcher said:

“Due to ongoing anti-social behaviour by a small minority of young people in the Winsford area, we have taken the decision to put these extra measures in place to deter this behaviour and reassure people that we are taking this seriously.

“This type of behaviour will not be tolerated; our communities should not be disrupted by anti-social behaviour. Every resident has the right to feel safe in their neighbourhoods yet a small minority are disrupting this.

“I would urge anyone who witnesses or feels that they have been subjected to anti-social behaviour to report this to us by calling 101 or reporting it via our website.”