A DISPERSAL order put in place in Redditch town centre to prevent anti-social behaviour over the bank holiday proved a successful deterrent with no action needed against anyone over the whole weekend.
The legislation gave police the powers to exclude members of the public who caused anti-social behaviour or where there is a reasonable belief that they may cause anti-social behaviour or criminality in the area.
An increased uniformed presence was also out and about on Church Green and around the town centre.
Officers put the measures in place in response to recent incidents including an intoxicated man making threats towards another person on Church Green on August 20.
Later that day there were reports of two women in their 40s involved in a fight.
The Section 35 Dispersal Order notice under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 applied to a mapped out area.
The order was publicised on the Redditch Standard website and across social media by West Mercia Police.
Insp Richard Field, from Redditch Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We were very pleased with how the weekend went – no dispersals were issued and the order was very successful. It did what it was supposed to do – it acted as a deterrent.
“Our officers did engage with members of the community while they were out and about and many people said they were pleased to see them there.”
Prior to the order being enforced, Insp Field said the legislation was aimed at preventing the actions of a small minority who had caused anti-social behaviour from ruining it for the majority.
“We will not tolerate this type of behaviour, which has recently included cases of threatening and abusing innocent passers-by, of which alcohol appears to be a contributing factor,” he said.
Insp Field added if people saw police officers in the town centre and needed help, they should approach them as his team would be happy to assist in any way they could.
