Police back dispersal policy

Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 13 March 2008

MARYPORT police deny that a Senhouse Street dispersal order is moving anti-social behaviour to other parts of the town.

People at a Maryport and District Neighbourhood Forum on Tuesday night suggested that young people causing problems in the town centre have now moved out to Ewanrigg and Netherton.

But Inspector George Nevins and Sergeant John Leonard have denied the claims.

Sgt Leonard said the dispersal order has only had to be used three times in the five weeks since it was introduced and only nine people had been moved out of Senhouse Street, including two from Workington.

“During the first weekend there was some trouble in Netherton and we responded by having a high police profile up there,” he said.

Inspector Nevins said anti social behaviour has been an ongoing problem in Maryport and is being tackled. He said Senhouse Street had been identified as being particularly bad and police moved to resolve that problem as they will with other areas.