Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 08 May 2008

GANGS of youths will not be allowed to gather in Cockermouth town centre from today.

Police have been given powers to move youths with a dispersal order. Fines of up to £2,500 could be issued if the youths refuse to move.

The order is designed to prevent anti-social behaviour, after police were called to the town centre 92 times in January and February to move gangs of youngsters.

Inspector Martin Connolly, of Cockermouth neighbourhood policing team, said: “Youth disorder in Cockermouth reduces the quality of life of many local residents, business owners.

“Large groups of young people regularly gather in the town centre intimidating passers by and undertaking in alcohol fuelled disorder.

“This sort of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Police are working closely with partners, schools and members of the local community to tackle youth disorder and this dispersal order will give our officers increased powers to prevent problems before they start by dispersing or removing individuals who may cause or are causing trouble.

“Young people are still welcome in Cockermouth but if they gather in large groups which we consider is intimidating to others or who plan to cause trouble they will be broken up and told to move on. “If they are not from the local area – they will be told to leave the town and will not be allowed to return to Cockermouth for up to 24 hours.”

The three-month order started last night and will run until Friday, August 8.

The order follows the success of two similar dispersal orders in Maryport and Workington which have been put in place over the last 12 months to tackle youth disorder and the anti-social use of motor vehicles.

This latest dispersal order in Cockermouth will encompass the whole of the town centre from Derwent Mills, up to Lorton Road and across Market Place. This is the largest area in West Cumbria covered by a dispersal order designed to tackle youth anti-social behaviour.

Inspector Connolly added: “My message to the young people in Cockermouth who will be frequenting the area covered by the dispersal order is simple: show respect for the neighbourhood and the people and property in it, because if you don’t you will be removed from it.

“Tackling anti-social behaviour is not the job of the police alone, it is down to each and every one of us to help solve the problem. We are urging parents to take more responsibility by knowing where their children are when they go out in the evenings after school and at the weekend. We know that many of the young people who are obtaining alcohol, are doing so by asking adults to buy it for them, so are also urging any adults who are approached to buy alcohol for young people to say no.”