Dispersal order

The Section 30 Order, which covers Church Hill Community Centre in Loxley Close, the YMCA car park and surrounding areas, came into effect at 6pm on Friday and will run for six months.

The order enables police and community safety officers to disperse groups of two or more if the officer believes the group's behaviour is likely to result in people being harassed, alarmed or distressed.

It is the 12th order of its kind spanning the town's north-east sector and police say Church Hill has seen a fall in the number of complaints about nuisance behaviour.

Sgt Neil Billingham said: "It's never just a question of moving groups on and that being the end of it.

"We identify those involved and send out follow-up letters to the individuals and their parents. This acts as a big deterrent and the numbers hanging around start to reduce significantly.

"Those who choose not to heed the warnings then find themselves being arrested or the subject of other appropriate measures, such as antisocial behaviour orders or Acceptable Behaviour Contracts."

Sgt Billingham said police were also applying to Redditch Council to establish an alcohol-free zone in the centre of Church Hill.

He added: "We are confident these measures will help to break the pattern of antisocial behaviour and those living nearby or using the facilities can do so without fear."