POLICE in Andover have granted a Section 30 Dispersal Order for an area of the town.

The order, which has been granted in consultation with Test Valley Borough Council, comes into force at 00.01am on Friday, June 8 2012 and will end at 11:59pm on Friday, December 7.

The dispersal order covers part of South Street, Andover.

The order has been granted due to ongoing problems of anti-social behaviour in South Street, which have caused members of the public to feel intimidated and harassed.

Sergeant Andy Noble, of the Andover Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: ““We have worked closely with our partners at Test Valley Borough Council and a Local Action Group to put this order in place to reduce the anti-social behaviour in South Street.

“This order gives us an additional option to deal with those causing problems in this area.”

The order has been granted under Section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, which gives uniformed officers and PCSOs the power to disperse groups of two or more people, whose behaviour they believe has, or is likely to, result in any member of the public being intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed.

Officers can use the powers by: • Telling people in the group to leave the area • Telling people who don’t live in the area to leave • Telling people who don’t live in the area not return for a period of up to 24 hours.

Also, Between 9pm and 6am persons under the age of 16 who are not under the effective control of a parent or a person over the age of 18 may be removed to their home or place of safety if more appropriate.

Anyone who remains in, or returns to, the area after being told to leave can be arrested and could face three months in prison or a fine of up to £5,000.

Any residents who witness anti-social behaviour in the area should contact police on 101