Green light for police powers to target yobs in Dudley

A dispersal order has been made to combat anti-social behaviour and means officers can move on groups if they are suspected of causing a nuisance.

They can also take under-16s found hanging around back home to their families between 9pm and 6am. The order covers Dudley Wood Road, Saltwells Road, Halesowen Road, Molyneux Road, The Bowling Green Estate, The Beck and The Race Meadows Estate.

It runs for six months and comes into force from midnight on Friday. Police said those found to be consistently breaking the order, or any individual anti-social behaviour orders, face possible eviction from the area and further civil interventions.

Pc Reg Steele, responsible for implementing the dispersal order, said: "We are pleased to have secured this dispersal order and hope to reduce issues of crime and anti-social behaviour across the locality.

"Sadly, the actions of a few individuals have a negative effect on the whole community and we hope that this order will enable us to make a real difference to those who are suffering due to anti-social behaviour."

Councillor Steve Waltho, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: "Dispersal Authorisation Notices are one of the tools that the partnership uses to tackle anti-social behaviour and we have supported the recent application from the police to use dispersal powers over the next six months in the Dudley Wood area."

Similar orders have been made in the Queens Way area of Wollecote and in Pensnett.

Earlier this year the council approved plans to close an footpath in nearby Quarry Bank because it had been plagued by anti-social behaviour.

Residents had long complained about the walkway between Robin Hood Road and Marion Close. A petition signed by 35 people calling for action was handed in to council chiefs.

The path was often used by people as part of a route from the village to the Merry Hill shopping centre.