Lancaster police issue dispersal orders after increase in anti-social behaviour

Police issued dispersal orders to street drinkers in Lancaster as part of a week of crackdowns on anti-social behavior across the district.
As part of Anti-Social Behaviour Week last week, police in Lancaster and Morecambe said they wanted to highlight some of the issues they have come across and how they dealt with them.As part of Anti-Social Behaviour Week last week, police in Lancaster and Morecambe said they wanted to highlight some of the issues they have come across and how they dealt with them.
As part of Anti-Social Behaviour Week last week, police in Lancaster and Morecambe said they wanted to highlight some of the issues they have come across and how they dealt with them.

And they warned that a 'trend of the few spoiling public areas for the many' will be taken seriously, with support from the city council.

As part of Anti-Social Behaviour Week last week, police in Lancaster and Morecambe said they wanted to highlight some of the issues they have come across and how they dealt with them.

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They said: "In Lancaster city centre we have been increasingly aware of street drinkers using public spaces to socialise and become intoxicated.

"This lead to members of the public approaching officers to inform them that they felt distressed by these individuals shouting at them, becoming aggressive, and littering.

"In response to this issue we had a Dispersal Order authorised. This means that anyone who is causing anti-social behaviour in the city centre area is asked to leave and if they return within 48 hours, they can be arrested for breaching.

"Seven people have been issued with dispersal orders since being authorised on Saturday 25th July."

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Meanwhile, in Morecambe, neighbourhood policing teams attended incidents involving large groups of youths including a racially aggravated public order, reports of criminal damage in Happy Mount Park and nuisance reports in Regent Park, as well as multiple reports of drug dealing in the area.

Two flag poles in the garden of remembrance in Morecambe were also broken by vandals at the weekend. If anyone has any information which might lead to those responsible being caught, this can be reported to the police either online here or by calling 101 stating incident log number LC-20210726.

Police said: "With the majority of these incidents involving young people, we understand that now Covid restrictions have lifted, they can meet up with friends and enjoy their holidays.

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"However, what we have observed throughout this week is a trend of the few spoiling public areas for the many, with unacceptable and often criminal behaviour.

"We have responded to these issues in the short term with multiple arrests and voluntary attendance interviews being organised. We are also working closely with the council and other partner agencies to offer more long term interventions."