Police patrols were increased in Chichester this weekend, following a rise in incidents last week.
Under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime & Policing Act 2014, a dispersal order was authorised in the city centre after an increase in reports of crime and anti-social behaviour since Monday, January 29.
The 48-hour order, which was activated at 12pm on Friday, February 2, will ran until 12pm on Sunday, February 4.
This power gives officers and designated police staff the power to disperse individuals behaving in an anti-social manner. It also carries a power of arrest if the terms of the dispersal order are ignored.
There was a heightened police presence across the town centre during this time.
Chief Inspector Will Keating-Jones, District Commander for Arun and Chichester said:
“Sussex Police take a zero-tolerance approach to crime and anti-social behaviour. We believe this order is necessary to protect the community due to an increase in offences, predominately committed by young people, over the last week.
“We, as a team, have a commitment to keep the residents of Chichester city centre safe.
“We are also urging the public to get in touch if they have been affected by this behaviour this week, or witness anything suspicious this weekend.”
Witnesses or anyone with any information or footage is asked to contact police online or call 101 quoting Operation Ironhide.
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