Curfews can be introduced in areas where the police and the council agree that gangs have been hanging around and starting trouble or threatening people.
If a local council introduces a curfew, then the police have powers to break up groups of kids and take anyone under 16 back to their homes or a safe place.
Local councils can authorise the police to do this using powers from the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act. The powers can last up to six months. After that, councils have to re-apply.
How do they work?
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