Dispersal orders are in place this weekend in a bid to stop yob “chaos” in a busy town centre.
Officers in Widnes deployed the tactic in the wake of a spate of antisocial behaviour earlier in the week when youths - some riding bicycles - smashed windows, damaged a fire alarm and threw a fire extinguisher at a window while others did wheelies through Asda and used foul language.
A post on Widnes Police’s page on Facebook branded the scenes “chaos”.
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The dispersal order covers a swathe of the town centre encompassing Gerrard Street, Widnes Shopping Park, Asda, and parts of Milton Road and Widnes Road.
Officers will be able to ban anyone from the area for up to 48 hours to prevent disorder and to tell them to leave.
The powers are in place now and an initial order will run until 9pm today, to be immediately followed by a further order to run from 9pm tonight until 9pm on Sunday.
Inspector Rob McLoughlin said: “Due to ongoing antisocial behaviour here in Widnes by a small minority of young people, we have had to impose a dispersal order in the town over the weekend.
“This type of behaviour will not be tolerated and as a result, we have already arrested two teenagers.
“Our communities should not be disrupted by anti-social behaviour.
“Every resident has the right to feel safe in their neighbourhoods yet a small minority are disrupting this.
“I would urge anyone who witnesses or feels that they have been subjected to antisocial behaviour to report this to us by calling 101 or reporting it via our website so that we can investigate further.”
Following Wednesday's trouble in the town centre, a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. He has since been released on conditional bail.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and public order offences. He has since been released on conditional bail.
Anyone with information on ASB in their area can report it to Cheshire Police via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour/
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