Police have been enforcing a dispersal order around Preston city centre this weekend following ongoing reports of disorder involving large groups of young people.
Using the order, officers were able to issue individuals with a Direction to Disperse under Section 35 of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Failing to comply with the direction is a criminal offence, and three young people were arrested.
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Police are working with partners in the local authority to issue young people and their parents with Community Protection Warnings, Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders.
A spokesperson for Preston Police said: “Our warning is that these measures can have serious consequences; they could affect employability for young people, and could affect access to social housing for parents. They could also result in referrals to schools and social services.”
Officer are in the process of reviewing CCTV footage from several locations around the dispersal area to identify repeat offenders.
The spokesperson continued: “Those who were not spoken to this weekend, we will deal with soon.
“We are grateful for the continued support of the community around Preston city centre as we work together to tackle criminality.”
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