UNRULY gangs causing a nuisance late at night can now be moved on after police obtained a dispersal order.

Officers had received numerous reports of groups of youths aged between 10 and early 20s engaging in anti-social behaviour and crime in Cavendish Square during the evenings.

Now the Parks neighbourhood policing team have the power to move the gangs, often numbering 30 or 40 people, away from the area, which includes the whole square and the green at Horsham Road.

All areas involved have been leaflet dropped by officers with a map.

Officers can order groups to leave the area for 24 hours if they believe their presence or behaviour is causing, or likely to cause, intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress.

And if anyone refuses, they could be arrested, taken to court, and potentially risk losing their home if they are a council tenant.

The order will remain in place until September and police hope it will also quell any potential rise in anti-social behaviour throughout the summer.

PC Nick Payne, beat manager for the Parks, said police would be carrying out patrols to enforce the order.

He said: “We have had issues with anti-social behaviour and residents have complained to us.

“We tried to deal with it in the normal fashion, but we are dealing with a large number of people and they would not listen.

“The order took effect immediately and will run until September so will run throughout the summer – our peak hours of business.

“Around 95 per cent of those involved are local, from the Parks and Walcot, and they range from 10 or 11 up to early 20s. Often they have dogs and are swearing or being abusive to shoppers at the Co-operative.

“It can be intimidating. There have been several assaults too.

“If they start hanging around just outside the area we can look at extending it – but being locals, this is where they want to hang around so I don’t think it will move elsewhere.

“We will be looking at it very closely and will be enforcing it.

“We have worked with local shop owners and forums and they are on board.

“If anyone has any problems they should contact us.”

Anyone with any information about anti-social behaviour at Cavendish Square should contact PC Payne on 101.