New order to keep youths in check

Police on Teesside have been granted powers to disperse youths in the run-up to Halloween and Bonfire Night.

The order allows police officers and PCSOs to break up groups of two or more people if it is believed they are engaged in anti-social behaviour.

It covers Middlesbrough town centre and will be in force until 16 November, during a time when there is usually a rise in firework-related incidents.

Anyone returning within 24 hours, after being told to leave, risks arrest.

Insp Geoff Bush, from the neighbourhood policing team, said: "The authorities take year-round steps to reduce anti-social behaviour but see the dispersal order as an additional tool to nip seasonal problems in the bud.

"It should help keep criminal damage and anti-social behaviour to a minimum over this period where traditionally we see an increase in reports of firework-related incidents."