POLICE have stepped up their campaign against anti-social behaviour in Newton Abbot by sending three more youths on their way.

As reported on Monday evening, the police placed a Section 35 Dispersal Order covering the parts outlined on the map above this article.

On their Facebook page this afternoon, Wednesday, they committed themselves to stopping anti-social behaviour.

The local police say: ‘Yesterday officers proactively patrolled the hotspots for antisocial behaviour whilst engaging with local businesses and members of the public around the town centre.

‘As a result three more youths were dispersed from the area outlined in the map for a period of 48 hours, a reminder that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

‘These orders give the police additional powers to deal with people acting in an anti-social manner.

‘Our residents and communities deserve to enjoy the places they live and not feel worried about going out or being a victim of anti-social behaviour.'

Sally Henley, Newton Abbot town development manager, said: ‘There has been concern about groups of young people congregating in the town centre and I know that this is intimidating for the public and visitors and I am grateful that the police have taken this tactic to impose a dispersal order, as a way of dealing with this, to reassure the public and business owners.

‘I don’t have any knowledge of what has preceded this action and I would be interested to know if perhaps one of the local organisations, working with young people has been involved.

‘Anti- social behaviour is a blight on any town, but engagement, as a means of finding a more long-term solution for better channelling young energy towards productive and positive outcomes, rather than destructive and negative ones, would seem to me to be important.’