Police have introduced stricter measures for this weekend in a Liverpool suburb following increasing supports of anti-social and criminal behaviour.
Merseyside Police confirmed that a dispersal zone will be in place in Woolton for 48-hours this weekend. Starting at 2pm on August 13, it will last until Monday, August 15 at 1.59pm.
It comes following reports of "antisocial behaviour amongst groups of youths in the area". Officers will be in the area to provide a visible presence and deal with any incidents.
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The Dispersal Zone covers the area bounded in the map and includes Menlove Avenue, Beaconsfield Road, Woolton Hill Road, Rose Brow, Hunts Cross Avenue, Kings Drive, Speke Road, School Lane, Camp Hill Woods Footpath, High Street and Allerton Road. It is the second dispersal order in the Woolton area this month after stricter measures were introduced between August 3 and August 5.
Community Policing Inspector Neil Birkett said: "Recently our officers have received reports of groups youths behaving in an anti-social manner, including instances of criminal damage. We are clear that we will not tolerate such behaviour that disrupts local residents, businesses and visitors.
"In consultation with the community we have introduced this dispersal zone to allow extra officers to remain in the area, disperse any groups causing such incidents, and to provide reassurance to the vast majority of law-abiding people. I want to stress that the dispersal zone is not designed to prevent young people, or anyone else, from meeting in this area to enjoy the good weather this weekend.
"The dispersal zone is designed to give us the powers we need to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour and keep our community in Woolton safe. If you are out and about in Woolton this weekend and have any concerns, please speak to our officers out on patrol or contact us so we can take action."
The order comes under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people they suspect are causing or likely to cause crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour to members of the public to leave a designated area and not return for up to 48 hours.
Under the legislation, officers have the power to seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour. Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for.
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