Police using powers of dispersal

Parts of the Heathway and Lozells areas of Birmingham will come under new police dispersal powers from Monday.

Officers can break up groups of two or more people they consider are causing, or may cause, harassment or distress.

They will implement the new powers in several streets in Heathway and in Hunters Road, Villa Road and Soho Hill in Lozells.

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act of 2003, police can also escort young people under 16 back to their homes.

The police say there were 70 reports of anti-social behaviour in shops in Heathway in five months.

There have also been a number of instances of criminal damage and nuisance behaviour in Lozells.