Dispersal order in place in Portswood this evening (November 14)

As part of our policing of the regular protest in Portswood this evening (November 14), officers have put in place a dispersal order which will enable us to order anyone behaving anti-socially to leave the area.

The dispersal zone covers Highfield Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, Portswood High Street, and down to Thomas Lewis Way.

We have a duty to facilitate lawful protest, and we will continue to do so - however, where behaviour turns from this to people acting unlawfully or anti-socially, then we have and will continue to deal with this.

The Section 34 dispersal order runs from 4pm today until 9pm, and will allow officers to order people acting outside the confines of a lawful protest to leave and not return.

Should anyone not follow this order, they could then be arrested.

Our priority at gatherings remains public safety, and we continue to liaise with organisers, along with the community and our local partner organisations.