Police bring in dispersal order after nuisance behaviour in Old Portsmouth and on Southsea Common

POLICE have enacted a dispersal order after groups of people in Old Portsmouth started to cause problems.
By Tom Morton
Published 3rd Apr 2021, 14:30 BST
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The order means that officers can tell groups to split up and move away from certain areas. Not obeying the order is a criminal offence.

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A statement put out today on the Portsmouth Police Facebook page said: ‘Yesterday we did see some issues in the Old Portsmouth area with gatherings of people acting in an anti-social manner. This combined with similar reports the night before have meant that officers have been authorised to use their dispersal powers under the above legislation.’

The boundary of a dispersal order introduced on Friday which expires at 5.44pm on Sunday, April 4 Picture: Portsmouth policeThe boundary of a dispersal order introduced on Friday which expires at 5.44pm on Sunday, April 4 Picture: Portsmouth police
The boundary of a dispersal order introduced on Friday which expires at 5.44pm on Sunday, April 4 Picture: Portsmouth police

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The order runs until 5.44pm on Easter Sunday and was granted by Acting Inspector Chris Pell.

Yesterday the police revealed a new operation aimed at reducing nuisance behaviour along the seafront called Operation Nautical. Last summer there were problems on the common, with a dispersal order brought in after unruly crowds gathered.