Dispersal orders issued in Andover town centre over the bank holiday weekend

Over the bank holiday weekend, officers from Andover’s Neighbourhood Policing team set up a dispersal order under Operation Solar, our response into tackling anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

The order was in place for 48 hours from 2pm on Friday, 29 April until 2pm on Sunday, 1 May.

A total of six dispersal orders were issued and one man was arrested.

A 16-year-old boy was issued with a dispersal notice after causing anti-social behaviour inside Riverside Bowl at around 7.38pm on Friday, 29 April.

A 15-year-old boy was also issued with a dispersal notice after swearing at staff in Riverside Bowl at around 8pm on Friday, 29 April.

At 8.33pm on Friday, 29 April, an officer spoke to a group of nine young people who were gathered outside St Mary’s Church playing music loudly. One member of the group, a 15-year-old boy, became abusive towards the officer and when told to stop, continued to swear at him. The 15-year-old boy was issued with a dispersal notice. The rest of the group left the area quietly.

At 3.17pm on Saturday, 30 April, officers located two 14-year-old girls at Vigo Park with a bottle of alcohol. Officers seized the alcohol and issued both teenagers with dispersal notices.

On Saturday, 30 April at 4.16pm, a 32-year-old man was issued with a dispersal order having been found causing anti-social behaviour outside Lidl.

At 6.10pm later that day, the 32-year-old from Andover was seen in the town centre in breach of his dispersal order. He was arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with a section 35 direction excluding a person from the area. He was released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Sergeant Jeremy Boughay from Andover’s Neighbourhood Policing team said “A section 35 dispersal order was authorised over the bank holiday weekend as part of our ongoing commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour in Andover town centre.

“Our aim was to offer reassurance and support to our communities, whilst taking enforcement action against anyone causing trouble in the area.

“Our message is clear, anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Andover and we will continue to deal with this type of disorder whenever and wherever it occurs.

“As part of Operation Solar, we continue to work with our partners to combat anti-social behaviour and divert young people away from causing it in the first place.”

We continue to encourage people to report anti-social behaviour to us on 101 or via our website at https://www.hampshire.police.uk/. Every piece of information helps us to build a better picture of what is happening and where, allowing us to plan our resources.

If a crime is in progress, always call 999.