News

Kent Police have advised that a dispersal order is being enforced in Tovil following reports of antisocial behaviour.

The order was put in place at 6am on Wednesday 17 August following complaints made about nuisance behaviour in the Coombe Road and Brenchley Road area.

This behaviour includes excess noise being made by large groups of people which has caused intimidation to local residents.

It will remain in force until 6am on Friday 19 August.

While the order is running any person over 10 years of age can be directed to leave the locality and not return for a stated period of time if an officer or PCSO has reasonable grounds to suspect that behaviour has contributed, or is likely to contribute, to the public being harassed, alarmed or distressed.

It is an offence to fail to leave when directed, without a reasonable excuse.

Sergeant Nick Hatcher, from Kent Police’s Maidstone Community Safety Unit, said: ‘This dispersal order has been created in response to reports we have received from residents and partner agencies.

‘Anti-social behaviour is, at its lowest level, a nuisance to people in the surrounding area however it can also cause people to feel threatened. That is something we cannot allow.

‘Once this order has ended we will continue to work with partner agencies to reduce future incidents. If necessary, we will not hesitate to issue a similar order in the future.’

Kent Police is working with housing provider Golding Homes to tackle antisocial behaviour in this locality.

Steve Timms, a community safety adviser at Golding Homes said: ‘We are working in partnership with Kent Police to deal with incidents of nuisance behaviour in Tovil.

‘We believe that our residents should be able to enjoy living in their properties without feeling harassed or threatened and take allegations of anti-social behaviour very seriously, which in some incidences has led to enforcement action, if evidence has supported it.’