People could be asked to leave an area of Wirral this weekend after police have put a Dispersal Zone in place.
Officers will be stepping up patrols in Leasowe after groups of young people have been carrying out criminal damage and intimidating people in the area. Incidents over the last few weeks include threats of violence towards members of the public and missiles have being thrown at police cars.
As a result, Merseyside police have been given special powers that run from 3pm on Friday, October 28 until 3pm on Sunday, October 30. The Dispersal Zone is in place in Leasowe estate and include Leasowe Road, A554, M53, The Birket, Wirral Circular Trail and Reeds Lane.
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Under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, the zone gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people they suspect are causing or likely to cause crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour to members of the public to leave a designated area and not return for up to 48 hours. Officers can also seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour.
Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for. Alan McKeon, community policing inspector said: "Recently our officers have received reports of young people behaving in an anti-social manner on the Leasowe Estate.
"In the past recent weeks incidents of criminal damage, public order, and violence have been reported to officers and missiles have been thrown at police vehicles in the area. We must be clear that we will not tolerate such reckless, dangerous behaviour which puts our community and businesses at risk.
"This dispersal zone allows extra officers to remain in the area to disperse any groups causing such incidents, and to provide reassurance to the vast majority of law-abiding people in the area. I want to stress that the dispersal zone is not designed to prevent young people, or anyone else, from meeting in this area but gives us the powers we need to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour, enabling people of all ages to feel safer when travelling and shopping in Leasowe.
“If you are out and about this weekend in Leasowe or work in the area and have any concerns over the next few days, please speak to our officers out on patrol or contact us so we can take action."
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