Five teens were arrested after causing chaos in a Liverpool shopping centre.
Merseyside Police were called to Halewood Shopping Centre two times in one evening and arrested five children, aged between 12 and 14 on suspicion of a number of offences. On Thursday, March 2 police arrested two 14-year-old boys and a 13-year-old boy after they were found to be trespassing at Halewood Shopping Centre.
On the same night police arrested two boys, aged 12 and 13, on suspicion of theft following an incident at a store on Leathers Lane. All five children were released on conditional bail.
READ MORE: Chaos at Best-one shop as bags of sugar and cans thrown in fight
Police have now introduced a dispersal zone in Halewood today (Friday, March 3) in response to the increase in reports of criminal and anti-social behaviour. The order runs from Friday at 4pm and will last for 48 hours until 3.59pm on Sunday, March 5.
Officers will be in the area to provide a visible presence and deal with any incidents. The dispersal zone includes Wood Road, Leathers Lane, Bailey’s Lane, Roseheath Drive and Beechwood Avenue.
Inspector of Community Policing Mark Berry said: “We have introduced this dispersal zone in response to several reports involving anti-social behaviour and criminality in the area, which is having a significant impact on businesses and people living in Halewood or shopping in the town. These reports relate to youths who have been involved in criminal and anti-social behaviour, including theft and trespassing.
“We simply will not stand back and allow those engaged in this type of criminality to continue. Therefore, we have introduced this dispersal zone to give officers in the area extra powers to approach people they suspect may be there to commit anti-social behaviour or other crimes.
“We will be in the area to provide reassurance to those people who simply want to shop or visit our 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.”
The dispersal zone comes under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people who are engaging in antisocial behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents. These powers should not be used for anyone visiting the area and going about their daily business.
Under the legislation, officers have the power to seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour. Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for.
READ NEXT
Man's teeth 'felt like jelly babies' after 'horrific' dental treatment
Activists who targeted S*n printing facility thank people of Liverpool
Man split second away from being hit by Avanti train in 'one of closest near misses ever'
M&S shoppers in disbelief over 'random' new £4.50 bacon sandwich
