Police in Yateley have granted a Section 30 Dispersal Order for an area of Blackwater.

The order, issued under section 30 of the Anti-Socical Behaviour Act 2003, comes into force at 12.01am on Friday, July 24 and will be in place until Thursday, 12 November.

The order covers the area bordered by and including Bell Lane, Maple Gardens, Frogmore Road and Frogmore Green.

Under the Act, uniformed officers and PCSOs can 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 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.

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.

Sergeant Ruth Sealey, of the Yateley Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “We have been working with the local community, the local council, Hart District Council and businesses in the area to target anti-social behaviour in Blackwater.

“A significant proportion of calls to us relate to youths gathering and causing concern for residents.

“This dispersal order will enable us to take a pro-active approach to moving on groups who cause problems within the community.

“It is important to stress that this order will be used to target the minority of people who cause anti-social behaviour not those young people who get together and do not cause problems.

“Throughout the summer there are a number of activities available to young people in Yateley and Blackwater. These include the Youth Bus which visits the Frogmore Community Centre on Monday evenings.

“There are also activities for young people as part of the Get With project at Darby Green and Soccer at 6, which is held at Hawley and Darby Green.”

For more information about these activities email the Yateley Safer Neighbourhoods Team via yateley.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

For more information about policing in your area visit the local policing pages of Hampshire Constabulary at www.hampshire.police.uk.