Crackdown on anti-social youths

May 21 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Merseyside police car _320

POLICE have imposed a heavy crackdown on anti- social youths by giving officers the power to break up groups of more than two people.

Rainford is the latest area in St Helens to introduce dispersal zones to deal with anti-social behaviour.

The three Section 30 dispersal zones will come into force from Monday for six months.

The powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Actmean officers can disperse groups of two or more and prohibit their return within 24 hours.

There are already several zones in St Helens where groups are not allowed to congregate. It is a last resort taken by police to tackle sustained and significant anti-social behaviour.

The three zones will cover Šall areas within the boundaries of:

Zone 1 – Cross Pit Lane, The Spinney, Old Lane, Scarisbrick Road and Higher Lane, Rainford.

Zone 2 – Cross Pit Lane,Whalley Avenue, Pilkington Street, Leyland Avenue and Church Road, Rainford.

Zone 3 – News Lane, Rail Close, Kendal Drive, Springfield, and Bushy Lane, Rainford Junction, Rainford.

The orders will operate from 6pm until 1am each day until November 25.

Meanwhile in Haydock, a dispersal area imposed on November 26 last year has been extended for a further six months.

The order operates each day between 5pm until midnight