Teenagers dispersed and arrested as part of police crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Shirley

Two teenagers have been issued with dispersal orders and one arrest has been made following a recent Section 34 dispersal order implemented in the Shirley area of Southampton.

A Section 34 dispersal order was authorised on Thursday (April 3) and was in place on Shirley High Street, Shirley Precinct and the surrounding areas from midday on Thursday until midday on Saturday (April 5).

The order was put in place as part of our ongoing efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area following an increase in reports in the past two to three weeks. Dispersal orders give police the power to order a person to leave the area that the order covers, with no return within the specified time period. Those who refuse to comply with the order are committing a criminal offence and are liable for arrest.

Officers have been patrolling Shirley High Street and the surrounding areas to enforce the order and tackle any anti-social behaviour being committed. On Friday evening (April 4) it was reported that two girls were causing a nuisance at the Shirley Precinct Subway store and that they had stolen a box of cookies. Police attended and issued both girls – a 13-year-old and 14-year-old - with a dispersal order, requiring them to leave the area.

The 14-year-old girl complied but the 13-year-old remained in the area and was arrested on suspicion of breaching a dispersal order and theft. She was later taken home and follow-up work will be done alongside the girl and her guardians.

Inspector for the Shirley area, Andy Proctor, said: “We know from speaking with local businesses and Shirley residents that the anti-social behaviour being committed in the area is having a significant impact on them, and understandably so.

“We want our communities to know that we are taking this issue seriously, which is why we implemented this dispersal order and have been out over the weekend enforcing it. We will continue working with local businesses and partners while carrying out targeted patrols, which will be a combination of high visibility patrols by uniformed officers and plain clothes patrols.

“Please keep reporting any issues to us via our website or 101 – you can also come and speak to patrolling officers whenever you see them.”

To ensure we can continue effectively tackling anti-social behaviour in the Shirley area, another Section 34 dispersal order has now been implemented for the area in the pictured map and is in place from midday today (Monday 7 April) until 11pm on Wednesday evening (9 April).

Officers will be in the area patrolling and will be happy to chat to anyone about any concerns or questions they may have.