DRUNKEN youths are banned from hanging around on street corners in a problem area of Portsmouth from today.
A dispersal order was introduced in Paulsgrove to combat anti-social behaviour in the area.
The move follows complaints from residents about rowdy youngsters, sometimes in gangs of up to 30, who have been making their lives a misery.
The decision
was taken by the Safer Portsmouth Partnership, including Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire Police, in response to the concerned residents.
The order gives police the power to disperse groups of two or more people if they are, or are likely to, cause harassment, alarm, or distress to other people.
If they remain in the area after being asked to leave they could end up with a £2,500 fine and a three month prison sentence.
Inspector Eddie Charlton, of Cosham's safer neighbourhood team, said: 'Cotswold House and the surrounding area has historically experienced a high number of complaints of anti-social behaviour connected to large groups of youths who congregate in the area.
'Some of these youths have had access to alcohol, which has resulted in them causing problems of intimidation to local residents, abusive language, repeated criminal damage and vehicle crime.'
One resident of Cheltenham Road, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, spoke of her relief at the new order.
She said: 'It has been a pretty big problem in the past. My two daughters feel very intimidated, they will even go a long way out of their way to get home just to avoid the group who hang around Cotswold House.
'Sometimes there are about 30 of them there, and they are not even that young. Their presence is intimidating and there have been fights in the street. We definately welcome this new order.'
Roy Goulding, anti-social behaviour unit manager at Portsmouth City Council, said: 'In order to keep the local community safe, we are working in partnership to tackle antisocial behaviour in Paulsgrove.
'The powers are being put in place to move on groups of people causing a problem. I would like to reiterate that these powers are not intended to be used against groups of people who are not acting in an anti-social manner.'
The full article contains 382 words and appears in The News newspaper.
