A dispersal order has been put in place at Bluewater Shopping Centre following reports of antisocial behaviour.
The order runs until 3.25pm on Tuesday 16th June, giving police officers additional powers to move anyone causing a nuisance on and, if necessary, arrest those who return to the area.
It was brought into force following groups of teenagers running through the centre and causing trouble. It was reported that the groups were intimidating other shoppers and stealing from shops.
A dispersal order is used by police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to provide immediate relief to communities affected by anti-social behaviour or crime. It allows officers to direct a person to leave a specified area and not return for up to 48 hours if they are engaging in, or likely to engage in, behaviour that contributes to harassment, alarm, distress, or disorder in the locality.
