Police are clamping down on Merseyside estates which are being terrorised by violence, crime and racist incidents.
A dispersal zone is being put in place covering the Beechwood and Ballatyne estates in Birkenhead, Wirral - in the area bounded by Fender Lane, Upton Road and Lennox Lane.
It comes after worrying reports of young people being involved with racially aggravated offences, violence, harassment, criminal damage and drugs.
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The order will run from today (Friday) at 4pm and will last for 48 hours until 4pm on Saturday.
During that time, police officers will be in the area to provide a visible presence and deal with any incidents.
The order comes under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people they suspect are causing or likely to cause crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour to members of the public to leave a designated area and not return for up to 48 hours.
Under the legislation, officers have the power to seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour.
If someone has previously been told to leave the area by an officer but then returns, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for.
Wirral Chief Inspector Tom Welch said: “We have introduced this dispersal zone as an extra precaution in response to a recent increase in reports of anti-social behaviour and criminality in the area, which is having a significant impact on the people who live there.
"We have received reports of young people engaged in anti-social behaviour, racially aggravated public order offences, violence, harassment and criminal damage.
“Other reports have included the supply of drugs and the anti-social use of electric bikes and motorbikes on roads and grassed areas.
“We simply will not stand back and allow those engaged in this type of criminality to continue. As well as making recent arrests and seizing stolen goods, drugs and cash, we have introduced this dispersal zone to give officers in the area extra powers to move on people they suspect may be there to commit anti-social behaviour or other crimes.
“We will also be in the area to provide reassurance to those people who simply want to enjoy their own neighbourhood without having to be confronted with this behaviour.
“If you witness any anti-social behaviour or have any information about such incidents, please contact or speak to our officers and we will take action.”
Merseyside Police advise to always call 999 if a crime is in progress.
You can pass any information on anti-social behaviour via the force's social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook.
You can also contact the independent charity Crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
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