Two Dispersal Orders For Cambs This Weekend

Orders in place in an area of Ely and St Neots in a bid to reduce crime and disorder.

The St Neots dispersal order is being put in place after recent violent disorders in the town. It comes into effect from 7pm today (Friday 14th August) and runs until 7pm on Sunday (16th August) and covers the area between Huntingdon Street across to the west side of the river and the area from Russell Street down to the river.

In Ely, the measure has been taken by police in response to information about car meet ups and anti-social driving.

The order is in effect from 7pm today (Friday 14th August) until 6am on Sunday (16th August) and covers Elean Business Park in Sutton.

Special Sergeant Tom Howard from the East Cambs neighbourhood policing team said: “We’ve received increased reports of excessive noise, car meets and anti-social driving in the area.

“Not only does this activity cause distress to residents and disruption to local businesses but it is incredibly dangerous.

“The dispersal order gives us the power to make those causing the anti-social behaviour to leave the area with immediate effect and not to return within a specified period.”

Both orders have been granted under section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, crime and Policing Act 2014, and allows for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and police officers to direct a person to leave the area specified within the order if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that their behaviour has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to members of the public. Failure to comply with the order can result in arrest.