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Police in Aldershot grant dispersal order

Press Releases

Published: 17/08/2011

Police in Aldershot have granted a Section 30 Dispersal Order for an area of the town.

The order, which has been granted in consultation with Rushmoor Borough Council, comes into force at 1am on Friday, August 19 and will end at 11:59pm on Friday, September 9.

The dispersal order covers Manor Park and the nearby Campbell Fields area. The order has been granted due to ongoing problems of anti-social behaviour in Manor Park, which have caused members of the public to feel intimidated and harassed.

Sergeant Debbie Barnes, of the Aldershot Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “The dispersal order gives us an additional option to deal with those people who cause problems in this area. “We are taking this action to prevent a minority of people from gathering in groups and spoiling other people’s enjoyment of the park.

“By working closely in partnership with Rushmoor Borough Council we believe this dispersal order will improve safety for everyone in Aldershot.”

The order has been granted under Section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, which gives uniformed officers and PCSOs the power to disperse groups of two or more people, whose behaviour they believe has, or is likely to, result in any member of the public being intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed. Officers can use the powers by:

• Telling people in the group to leave the area
• Telling people who don’t live in the area to leave
• Telling people who don’t live in the area not return for a period of up to 24 hours.

Anyone who remains in, or returns to, the area after being told to leave can be arrested and could face three months in prison or a fine of up to £5,000.

Any residents who witness anti-social behaviour in the area should contact police on 101 or via the website www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/contact/message_officer.htm  

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