POLICE have given more details about how they will use special powers to tackle louts blighting a part of Worcester.

As reported in the Worcester News yesterday, a section 30 order has been imposed on the Abbotsbury Court area in St Peter's. It comes into effect on Friday, April 29, and allows police to disperse groups of loitering trouble-makers.

They will be able to break up any group of two or more people causing intimidation, alarm, harassment or

distress.

Between 9pm and 6am, anyone under 16, unless accompanied by a responsible adult, can also be escorted home.

Sergeant Chris Allen, anti-social behaviour co-ordinator for South Worcestershire, said: "The vast majority of young people in dispersal areas cause next-to-no problems. However, a group presence can, and does often intimidate the community, particularly when individuals who are ringleaders cause problems."

Gangs of youths at St Peter's have pushed residents and shop workers to the limits by intimidating customers, being verbally abusive and damaging windows with stones. At the beginning of April, vandals smashed the windscreen of a parked car. The One Stop Shop has resorted to closing its doors early each night to avoid the trouble.

Now Worcester police and Worcester City Council have joined forces to tackle the problem.

A section 30 order was first used in the city in the Lyppards and surrounding Anchorage Green area in Warndon in January 2004 with great effect.

"Reported incidents dropped dramatically, with the consensus being that were marked improvements," said Sgt Allen.

"Initially there was a mixed reaction to the Lyppards section 30 order, with a number of offenders being arrested and prosecuted. Most, however, accepted the new standard and improved their behaviour - or stopped going there.

"Additionally, letters were sent to the parents of youngsters required to leave the area seeking their support."

Sgt Allen said that every two weeks, the police and the community safety partnership meet to pool data and analyse information to identify continuing problems at the city's known trouble-spots.

Police are also in the process of imposing anti-social behaviour orders on two ring leaders among about 20 known teenagers causing trouble for people in the St Peter's area.