POLICE have issued temporary bans to teenagers preventing them from accessing areas of Workington in an effort to clamp down on antisocial behaviour.
A police spokesman said dispersal orders have been issued on a number of occasions in the last two weeks banning youths from the town centre and Vulcan Park: “It means anyone deemed likely to cause disorder or harassment, alarm of distress to the public can be ordered to leave the area for up to 48 hours. The reports have centred on complaints of youths causing criminal damage, harassment and contributing to anti-social behaviour.”
Officers are urging parents to check where their children are and what they are doing.
Once a dispersal order is issued, under 16s should be taken home and officers will speak to their parents or guardians.
Last year gates were installed at each end of the lane next to Subway and Argos, off Murray Road, to deal with an increase in antisocial behaviour and criminal damage. The importance of closing the gates had been emphasised to businesses as youths congregate there.
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