Dispersal Order and Section 60 Order introduced in Liverpool city centre
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A Section 34 Dispersal Order and a Section 60 Order have been introduced in Liverpool city centre today, Saturday 23 August, to help prevent possible criminality and disorder.
The Section 34 Dispersal Order became active at 10am this morning and will remain in place until 9.59am on Monday 25 August.
The Dispersal Zone is bordered by Princes Parade, William Jessop way, Waterloo Road, Paisley Street, Great Howard Street, Leeds Street, Byrom Street, Hunter Street, Islington, Brunswick, Low Hill, Hall Street, Towerlands Street, Irvine, Mount Vernon, Grove Street, Oxford Street East, Smithdown Lane, Crown Street, Upper Parliament Street, Parliament Street, Queens Dock.
The order comes under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people who are engaging in criminality and anti-social behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents.
These powers will not be used for anyone visiting the area and going about their daily business.
Under the legislation, officers have the power to seize any item used in the commission of such incidents.
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 Section 60 Order will run from 10am to 10pm today (Saturday 23 August) and gives officers additional powers to search people who are suspected of involvement in criminality and disorder.
It also includes a Section 60AA authorisation, meaning failure to remove a face covering when asked by an officer could result in arrest. Any face covering can also be seized by a police officer.
Superintendent Karl Baldwin said: “These orders are not intended to disrupt anyone going about their lawful business today in the city centre, but instead will be used to help keep everyone safe.
“These orders are to ensure the people who live, visit or work in our city centre can do so free from crime and anti-social behaviour, and I would ask people to continue reporting any concerns and we will take action.
“The aim, as ever, is to keep the public safe. I hope that the presence of our officers in the city centre is reassuring, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to those officers.
“If you witness any criminal behaviour, or have any information about such incidents, please contact or speak to our officers and we will take action.”
Always call 999 if a crime is in progress. You can pass any information on anti-social behaviour via our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.