A FOUR-MONTH dispersal order is to come into operation in a Kent town to help police tackle anti-social behaviour involving a small minority of people.

The order will come into force in Edenbridge, near Sevenoaks, on Monday, January 8.

It was approved in December by Supt Paul Wilczek, of Kent Police, and Robin Hales, chief executive of Sevenoaks District Council and chair of The Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Dispersal orders are designed to provide assistance for communities experiencing problems with anti-social behaviour. The order was introduced after local people came forward to report incidents of harassment and intimidation in some areas of the town."

"Police action, with assistance from the Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership, has improved the situation and the Dispersal Order is being introduced as an additional measure to continue to address the local concerns and to prevent the re-occurrence of anti-social behaviour."

The order will be in place until Tuesday, May 8, and will cover a specific area that encompasses the entire town.

The Dispersal Order provides the police with the power to disperse groups of two or more people if they are acting in an anti-social manner, and if they do not live in the area they maybe excluded from it for up to 24 hours.

Under the Order police officers will be able to:

* Give instructions for a group to disperse immediately or within a specified time period.

* Give instructions for the group to disperse and for those whose residence is not in the defined area to leave the defined area, either immediately or within a specified time period.

* Give instructions prohibiting any persons whose residence is not within the defined area from returning for a period not exceeding 24 hours.

If an instruction to disperse is refused, it can lead to arrest and prosecution. This can result in a fine and imprisonment for a term of up to three months.

Also under the order, if a police constable finds a person in a public place within the defined area between 9pm and 6am, they may take that person to their place of residence if they believe that person is:

* Under the age of 16

* Is not under the effective control of a parent or responsible person aged 18 or over

* Not at risk of significant harm at their place of residence

This is a discretionary police power to protect young people from being at risk from or involved with anti-social behaviour. It is not a curfew and will only be used under certain circumstances where the officer genuinely feels it to be appropriate.

Sevenoaks District chief inspector Gillian Ellis said: "The neighbourhood police team in Edenbridge and the Community Safety Partnership are very much the driving forces behind this move.

"A dispersal order is one of a number of possible responses to anti-social behaviour in an area. It has a part to play but together we will continue to seek a long term solution."

Neighbourhood Sgt Steve Lea said: "It is important to stress that this does not mean a curfew is in place in Edenbridge.

"We won’t be asking any group to disperse unless we believe they are, or have been, acting in an anti-social manner. Nor will we be returning young people to their homes just because it’s after 9pm. People who are doing nothing wrong have nothing to worry about."

Maps showing the area covered by the order will be on display in the town and residents who want more information can get this by speaking to a local officer or contacting us by phone, 01732 379361 or e-mail, edenbridge.neighbourhood@kent.pnn.police.uk

Cllr Keith Loney, Sevenoaks council’s cabinet member with responsibility for community safety, said: "Implementing a dispersal order is not something that the Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership takes lightly.

"However, it demonstrates that it is prepared to use all the tools at its disposal to tackle anti-social behaviour in Edenbridge. A Dispersal Order has been used successfully elsewhere in the district.

"It sends out a clear message to those who intimidate and harass others that we will not tolerate such inconsiderate and unacceptable behaviour even if this is a small minority."