Police Powers To Deal With Drunk Teens

Police are having their dispersal powers reinstated in part of Southampton after a rise in the number of complaints about anti-social behaviour after a previous order came to an end.

Section 30 dispersal orders allow police to disperse gatherings of more than two people and order them to leave the area for 24 hours. Anyone who refuses to leave can be fined or sent to prison.

A previous dispersal order in the Windrush Road and Waveney Green area came to an end on January 28. It had proved successful in reducing anti-social behaviour to a low level.

Recently though there has been a marked increase in reports of mainly youths aged 13 to 17, gathering outside local shops and causing problems such as throwing stones at windows, drinking alcohol and being rowdy.

Safer Neighbourhood officer PC Sarah Miller said: "We are asking people to make sure they report any large gatherings in the area or anti-social behaviour to us on 101 or of course if it's an emergency on 999. Then we can
take appropriate action and make best use of the dispersal order where needed.

"As well as allowing police to disperse people the order allows officers to remove anyone under the age of 16 to their home if they are not with an adult.

"We are also working closely with Southampton City Council to come up with long-term solutions to the issues in the area."

The dispersal order will be in place until Wednesday, September 18.