Police will disperse youths from Gravesend town centre

The dispersal order applies to the Trinity Road area of the town centre.

Kent Police said there had been many complaints from local people about groups of youths causing disturbance and disruption to residents.

The order will be in place 24 hours a day until 27 December. Youths who fail to comply can be arrested.

They could then face a fine and/or imprisoned for up to three months.

"With the dispersal order comes a clear message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated," said North Kent Police area commander Martin Hewitt.

'Loutish behaviour'

"The measures reflect our determination to remove intimidation and allow local people lawful use of an area that has faced particular problems for several months.

Complaints have been made against drunkenness, drug taking, verbal abuse, criminal damage, racist harassment and "loutish behaviour".

The order also gives police the power to take unsupervised under-16s home if they are in the area between 2100 GMT and 0600 GMT.

It has been granted by Gravesham Borough Council and Supt Hewitt.

It is the second dispersal order used in Gravesend since the powers were introduced in 2003 and the fourth this year in north Kent.