Police have powers to stop disruptive teenagers

From Wednesday, teenagers who cause or are likely to cause alarm or distress in the Manton or Sandy Lane area of Worksop will be ordered to move on.

If they fail to do so, the police can arrest them under a new offence called "failure to disperse".

The measures being introduced have been made possible by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

Stones and eggs

After 2100 GMT under 16s who are behaving in a way officers consider to be anti-social will be escorted home.

Police say the problems are caused by groups of youths swearing, shouting and throwing stones and eggs.

We can take them to the police station and they can answer to us there why they are continuing to behave like that Sgt Steve Cartwright Nottinghamshire Police

Rob Packer is a Senior Youth Worker in the town and says he is reserving judgement for now.

He said: "You must realise we are talking about a minority of young people.

"This maybe one way of dealing with the problem which will work but we just don't know at the moment.

"We will see what the results are in six months."

Sergeant Steve Cartwright, who patrols the streets of Worksop, said: "It will enable us to get hands on with the juveniles that are the hardcore, continually causing of trouble.

"We can take them home and if they refuse to go home then we can take them to the police station and they can answer to us there why they are continuing to behave like that."