Business organisation calls for "yob" crackdown

The FPB is urging all south west police forces to follow the example of Dorset police by examining using dispersal orders to crack down on drunken yobs and anti social behaviour in coastal towns in the forthcoming summer season.

Dorset Police successfully tackled bad behaviour in Weymouth and Bournemouth last summer by using dispersal orders but because the order only lasts six months the force has had to apply for it again for the coming season. The order allows officers to disband groups they suspect of causing trouble and ban them from designated areas. Troublemakers who return within 24 hours are arrested and fined or sent to prison. Dispersal orders have been used in other coastal towns including Portsmouth, Falmouth, Holyhead and Blackpool.

The Forum of Private Business (FPB), which represents 25,000 small to medium-sized firms across the UK, with 10 per cent being in a coastal town, said it applauded Dorset police's actions to start preparing for the summer season now.

The FPB's South West spokesperson Rick Hopkins said: "The FPB has found overwhelming support from our coastal town members for a hard line to be taken by police in controlling drink-related violence and bad behaviour this summer. FPB urges businesses who are suffering from anti social behaviour problems to work with their local police force encouraging them to apply for the dispersal orders. Police have told us it helps build a case for a dispersal order if businesses tell them about trouble spots and keep a log of incidents. With the holiday season just months away, it is critical the resorts are properly prepared to cope with the sudden influx of visitors and late night boozing. The resorts are great places to have fun, but the police must have the towns under control so business interests - and the town's reputation are not undermined by yobs - most of whom do not even come from the town. Shops, restaurants and hotels need public order if they are to flourish. "

"Dispersal orders can be particularly effective in providing a shield for high streets - protecting shop fronts from damage. They have also proved effective in dealing with crowds at closing time a notoriously dangerous period.

"While dispersal orders may not be the long term solution to problems they can make a significant impact.