A group of Nottinghamshire neighbours and business owners feel they are being 'failed' by police over regular anti-social behaviour incidents in their community. Nottinghamshire Police authorised a 48-hour dispersal order in Hawtonville, Newark, from 6pm Sunday, February 12, after reports of youths swearing, climbing roofs and throwing stones at people and vehicles.
The dispersal order gives officers the power to direct a person who has committed or is likely to commit anti-social behaviour to leave the specified area, and forbids them from returning for two days. Anti-social behaviour is any action that causes a nuisance, harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people.
It can include graffiti, litter, verbal abuse, drug dealing, drinking alcohol in the street, begging and irresponsible dog ownership. The temporary dispersal order covered a patch of Hawtonville between Churchill Drive, Jersey Street, Eton Avenue and Pierson Street.
