Gang of youths carrying knives try to attack teen hiding in Somers Town house as presence distresses public

Police received multiple reports of young people being seen carrying knives in the Somers Town area yesterday (July 18). Portsmouth Police reported on Facebook that nearby residents were frightened by their behaviour.

“Officers attended, searches took place and nothing was found,” they said. “The group were asked to move on but kept coming back to locality. Further calls came in about a group of 20 youths trying to get to another youth inside of an address. Residents in locality are being alarmed and distressed by this behaviour.”

Police said they had to implement dispersal order powers around Wilmcote House in Tyseley Road. The youths were largely active in the Hyde Park Road area. Dispersal order powers allow police to move on large groups from an area and forbid them from returning during a specified time period.

Failure to do so can result in an arrest under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. “There were reasonable grounds to use this dispersal power for the purpose of removing and reducing the likelihood and them causing alarm and distress,” Portsmouth Police added. “Please keep reporting instances of ASB so we can act accordingly.”