Dispersal Zone introduced at Formby Beach and surrounding area

Officers in Formby have introduced a Dispersal Zone this afternoon (Saturday 5 June) after reports of anti-social behaviour in the area. It is a response to reports of large groups of youths gathering and inflicting disruption, harassment and abuse on other people in the area.

It came into place at 4.10pm today, runs until 6pm tomorrow (Sunday 6 June), and covers the area on the maps as follows: Area bounded by Formby Beach, St Luke’s Church Road, Kirklake Road, Edenhurst Drive, Greenloons Drive, Wicks Lane, Larkhill Lane, Victoria Road, Gores Lane, Victoria Road, Montagu Road, Train line towards Ainsdale, Coastal Road to Ainsdale Beach down to Formby Beach.

The order comes under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people they suspect are causing or likely to cause crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour to members of the public to leave a designated area and not return for up to 48 hours. 

Under the legislation, officers have the power to seize any item, including vehicles, used in the commission of anti-social behaviour.

Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for.

Community Policing Inspector Sean Harrison said: “We’ve brought this order back in today as an early intervention to remove any issues of anti-social behaviour and crime, which of course led to violence and other issues last weekend. 

“Officers have been and will continue to be will be out on high visibility patrols. We will take action against anyone seen acting recklessly or inappropriately. 

“We understand the impact this has on the local community and the vast majority of law-abiding visitors to the area, so I want to warn anyone planning on gathering in large numbers or causing any trouble that we will send you away. 

“The dispersal zone gives us the powers we need to deal effectively with people and I would urge anyone in the area with any information about anti-social behaviour or other concerns on the beach and dunes to contact us. If you are the parents or guardians of young people, please ensure you know where they are and discourage them from being involved in such behaviour.”

Anyone who wishes to report anti-social or criminal behaviour can contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.