Police order seafront crackdown this weekend - and can order teenagers to be sent home
The dispersal order allows officers to send teenagers home to their parents.
Police officers are enforcing a dispersal order along a popular stretch of seafront this weekend.
From 7pm today (Friday, June 26) until 7am on Sunday, June 28, a Section 34 dispersal order will be in place for the whole of Lee-on-the-Solent, including the seafront and Marine Parade, stretching all the way back to Alver Valley Country Park.
It comes after a similar dispersal order was issued for Gosport waterfront earlier this week, in response to reports of anti-social behaviour from “large groups” of teenagers.
Posting about the enforcement on Facebook, a spokesperson for Fareham Police said: “In response to some recent anti-social behaviour and increased crowd levels at Lee-on-Solent, we’ve issued a dispersal order. This will be reviewed and could be extended if we continue to receive reports of ASB in the area.
“The dispersal authority enables our officers to deal with any issues of anti-social behaviour in the directed area more effectively, and gives our officers the power to order a person to leave the area with no return within the specified time period.
“Those who refuse to comply with the order are committing a criminal offence and are liable for arrest. Individuals who are aged under 16 will be taken to their home address, and follow-up work will be done with parents.
“Officers will be patrolling in the area, so please do come and speak to them if you have any questions or concerns.”
Anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour in the area is advised to either speak with a police officer in the area, or contact 101.