POLICE officers in Redditch have issued another 48-hour dispersal order in response to an increase in anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
The order – effective from 3.30pm yesterday (Sunday November19 ) until 3.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday November 21) – provides powers to the police to exclude members of the public who cause anti-social behaviour or where there is a reasonable belief that they may cause anti-social behaviour.
Officers are acting in response to continued incidents of youths openly smoking drugs and verbally abusing passers-by.
The section 35 Dispersal Order notice under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 is for the mapped area of Redditch Town Centre.
Insp Rich Field, Safer Neighbourhood Team Inspector for Redditch, said: “We are unfortunately having to issue a dispersal order once again due to recurring incidents with youths who have caused anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
“The aim of the order is to prevent the minority from ruining it for the majority trying to go about their normal business in peace.
“We will not tolerate this type of behaviour which has included cases of threatening and abusing innocent passers-by, and openly smoking drugs.
“The dispersal order provides police officers additional powers to exclude these people from the town centre if they choose to act in an inappropriate way.”
Insp Field added if you notice more officers within the town centre, this should not alarm you.
They are there to help and to prevent any localised anti-social behaviour.
“Please approach the officers if you need to and they will happily assist in any way they can,” he said.
