Dispersal order in place in Haverhill after reports of young people fighting and throwing eggs

Police are tackling anti-social behaviour in part of Haverhill by issuing a dispersal order as a supportive measure.

This is in place for 48 hours from Tuesday 1 August until Thursday 3 August expiring at 3.37pm

It was imposed under Section 35 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to tackle ongoing issues of antisocial and disruptive public disorder between a group of around 15 young people such as fighting and throwing eggs at windows.

The order covers the A143 roundabout – Queen Street – Market Hill – High Street – Hamlet Road; streets inside A143 from A143 roundabout to A143 with B1057 roundabout and Swann Lane – Mill Road – Helions Park Ave – Duuery Hill – street off High Street and Hamlet Road.

Police have been conducting patrols of the area to minimise the likelihood of any further crime or disorder. The order gives uniformed officers the authority to disperse individuals or groups where their presence or behaviour has resulted, or is likely to result in, a member of the public being harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed.

The individuals can be excluded from a specified area for up to 48 hours and if they refuse to follow the officer’s directions to disperse they will be committing an offence, punishable by up to six months imprisonment and/ or a fine of up to £5,000.

Police hope that residents, parents and businesses will support efforts to make the town centre a pleasant place for all who use it. This measure gives officers more options, alongside our powers of arrest, when dealing with those causing problems.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.