PONTYPOOL will have a 48-hour dispersal order in place from today following recent reports of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the town.

 

The order will start at 5pm tonight with the designated areas including: Torfaen County Borough Council Car Parks on Glantorfaen Road in Pontypool this will be to prevent any trouble taking place.

The order provides Police Officers and Community Support Officers with the powers to direct anyone to leave this specified area if they are involved in anti-social behaviour. If they return to that area after being moved on, they face being arrested.

Torfaen Crime and Disorder Reduction Officer, Tom Delaney says: “This is an emerging problem, mainly around Thursday and Friday evenings.

“Despite our reminders, it appears youngsters are congregating and causing trouble. We have recently had reports of large numbers of vehicles congregating, noise nuisance, littering and underage drinking. Not only are these people breaking the law, they are also making residents and users of the car park feeling scared and intimidated.

“The dispersal order will provide us with further powers to tackle this issue and prevent groups of people from gathering and causing a disturbance. Officers will be patrolling the area regularly to enforce the Dispersal Order and to prevent incidents of anti-social behaviour.

“If you do see any suspicious activity, please call us immediately on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

The Dispersal Order will start at 5pm on Thursday 16th April and end at 5pm on Saturday 18th April 2015.