A DISPERSAL order has been put in place for Colchester town centre in a bid to crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Essex Police have introduced the legislation for St John's Car Park in Southway and the area around it.

The order began at 6pm on Tuesday and will run until 5.30pm on Thursday.

It comes following reports of anti-social behaviour inside the car park.

The dispersal order provides an officer or a PCSO with the power to issue a direction for an individual or group, who has committed or is likely to commit anti-social behaviour, to leave a specified area. If they return within 48 hours of this warning, they may be arrested.

Gazette:

Area - the dispersal order runs until Thursday

Inspector Rob Temme, of Colchester’s Community Policing Team, said: “We have received reports of anti-social behaviour regarding people who may frequent the car park of an evening.

"It is easily accessible and can be a place where anti-social behaviour occurs."

To the north, the order covers St John’s Street, to the east it runs down Abbeygate Street to the point where it meets Southway to the South. To the west, the entirety of Chapel Street North is covered.