Dispersal Orders

People have a right to feel safe in their communities. It is unacceptable for people to be afraid to use public spaces because they feel threatened by groups of people hanging around.

Part 4 (sections 30-36) of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 gives the police, working with local authorities, new powers to target action in problem areas to help communities remove intimidation and anti-social behaviour from their streets. The powers enable a senior police officer to designate an area where there is persistent anti-social behaviour and a problem with groups causing intimidation. The local authority must also agree to the designation.

The decision to designate an area must be published in a local newspaper or by notices in the local area. The designation can then last for up to six months and can be renewed if necessary. The designated area must be clearly defined, usually by a description of the streets or roads bordering the area.

Within designated areas the police and police community support officers have the power to disperse groups where the relevant officer has reasonable grounds for believing that their presence or behaviour has resulted, or is likely to result, in a member of the public from being harassed intimidated, alarmed or distressed. Individuals can be directed to leave the locality and may be excluded from the area for up to 24 hours.