A Dispersal Zone is in New Ferry tonight in response to an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the area.
The order runs from 5pm tonight, Friday 24 March, and will last for 48 hours until 5pm on Sunday 26 March. Officers will be in the area to provide a visible presence and deal with any incidents.
The dispersal zone covers Bebington Road, Boundary Road, Circular Drive, New Chester Road, Beaconsfield Road, Mayfields North, New Ferry By-Pass A41, Thorburn Close, New Chester Road, Stanley Road, Springwood Way to the railway line and then the length of railway line back to Bebington Road in Bebington.
The order 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 will 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.
Wirral local policing Inspector Daniel Greenhalgh said: “We have proactively put this dispersal zone in place in response to reports involving anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the area, which is having a significant impact on the community.
“We are appalled by this anti-social behaviour which is totally unacceptable, and understand the impact it has on residents and businesses.
“We are aware that a small minority of youths are causing anti-social behaviour which seems to take place when the schools are closed such as during the half-term period and at weekends.
“We won’t tolerate any kind of anti-social behaviour, and would like to reassure the New Ferry community that we are actively and robustly responding to the situation by putting proactive measures in place to prevent offences from taking place.
“This includes an increase in high-visibility police presence – both uniformed and plain clothes officers patrolling the area where we have taken children home to their parents. But sadly as you will appreciate not all parents play an active role.
“A number of perpetrators have been identified and we are continuing to identify those causing a nuisance by reviewing CCTV footage. Necessary action is then being taken via a number of ways such as referring them to the anti-social team, Youth Justice system and through housing partners who will take action with any parents who are a tenant.
“I ask residents in the area to check your CCTV and doorbell footage and contact us if they think there it has captured the perpetrators causing the issue to help identify them.
“This is a full-partnership approach where we are working with partner agencies including Wirral Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and local schools to identify suspects.
“Community groups are also signposting children to the numerous diversionary activities available across Wirral, which can also be found on the council website. So there no excuse for youths hanging around on the streets causing mindless, unnecessary trouble.
“We are working with schools in the area to notify parents and make them aware of the anti-social behaviour being caused by children.
“While police and partners are working together, we also need support of parents to take responsibility to prevent it from happening in the first place.
“With this, I appeal to parents and guardians, and urge them to know where their child is, what they are up to and friends they are with. It is not only to stop them causing unnecessary distress to residents in the area, but also for their own safety and welfare.”
Always call 999 if a crime is in progress. You can pass any information on anti-social behaviour via our 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.
You can also follow @MerPolWirral on Twitter and Facebook for updates and advice.
