A new dispersal order will give police extra powers to tackle antisocial behaviour in Kenley - and break up groups of youths who have been making local residents’ lives a misery.

The youths - many of whom are not from the local area - have been travelling into Kenley and congregating on St Winnifred’s estate on Kenley Lane. They have been harassing and intimidating residents with late night noise and abusing passers by, damaging property, and even hurling stones and fireworks.

The dispersal order - put in place by Croydon police and the council - gives the police extra powers. It enables them to break up gatherings of two or more people, where they have reasonable grounds for believing that their presence or behaviour has resulted, or is likely to result, in anyone being harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed.

They can direct individuals to leave the locality and exclude them from the area for up to 24 hours. Those acting lawfully will not be affected.

The order also allows police, between 9pm and 6am, to return young people under 16 home, if they are on the streets and not under the control of an adult, and either at risk from antisocial behaviour and crime; or causing, or at risk of causing, antisocial behaviour or crime.

Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts said:

“Police officers have repeatedly tried to engage with this group of young people and divert them from this behaviour. We welcome these extra powers as they enable us to take early action to break up gatherings of people, who are at risk of causing alarm or distress to people locally, bringing relief to the local community.”

Councillor Gavin Barwell, cabinet member for community safety, said:

“These young people are travelling away from the area where they live to come and cause trouble on someone else’s doorstep - it’s just not on. I want to reassure people in Kenley, and in our other communities, that we won’t tolerate this kind of antisocial behaviour, and we and the police are working together to tackle it, using all the powers at our disposal.”

Prior to the order being granted, police officers had repeatedly tried to engage with the group of youngsters and tried to divert them towards more positive activities.

Police and council officers will continue to use a range of interventions to prevent the youths behaving antisocially, including working with their families. 

The order will run until the end of January, after which time it will be reviewed. A map showing the area covered by the dispersal order is below: