Dispersal zone in Liverpool city centre

A Section 34 Dispersal Order has been introduced in Liverpool city centre and parts of Everton, Kensington, Vauxhall and Kirkdale today (Saturday 8 August) following incidents of disorder.
 
The Section 34 Dispersal Order will run from 4pm today for 48 hours until 3.59pm on Monday 12 August. 

The order comes under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime & Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) powers to direct people who are engaging in antisocial behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents to leave the designated area and not return for a specified period. These powers will not be used for anyone visiting the area to go about their daily business.
 
Under the legislation, also require anyone who has been directed to leave an area to surrender any item that has been used to cause anti-social behaviour.
 
Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, for which they may ultimately be arrested.
 
The order covers the area in the map, including the city centre, Vauxhall, Everton, Kirkdale and Kensington.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Chris Taylor said: “This order will give officers on the ground the ability to direct people suspected of being involved in or planning criminality to leave the designated area for a period of 48 hours, and to arrest them if they return.

“It is in addition to a Section 60 issued earlier which gave officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals across Liverpool city centre and is also designed to protect the community from disorder.
 
“Both orders are extra tools at our disposal to help keep the public safe, and highly visible police patrols will enforce them in the next 48 hours

“If you have information about people intent on committing acts of anti-social behaviour or criminality, let us know and we will take action.
 
“We will continue to deploy such tactics where we believe they can help our efforts to keep people safe.”
 
Anyone with information about criminality and disorder is asked to DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.
 
You can also pass information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.