POLICE have been granted a dispersal order to help tackle anti-social behaviour in the Queensway area of Wollescote.

The order, covering Gauden Road, Powlers Close, Hob Green Road, Vickers Walk, Queensway and Sandhurst Avenue, will run for three months starting from midnight on Saturday December 1.

Officers from Pedmore and Stourbridge East neighbourhood policing team hope it will put a stop to drinking and fighting in the streets and criminal damage in the area.

Granted in partnership with Dudley Council following a number of complaints from residents about anti-social behaviour - the order will give cops the power to move groups of two or more people from within a strictly defined area if they are suspected of causing anti-social behaviour.

They will also be able to take anybody under 16 back to their home address between 9pm and 6am.

PC John Redfern, responsible for implementing the dispersal order, said: "We are pleased to have secured this dispersal order and hope to reduce issues of crime and anti-social behaviour across the locality.

"Sadly the actions of a few individuals have a negative effect on the whole community and we hope this order will enable us to make a real difference to those who are suffering due to anti-social behaviour."

Those found to be consistently breaking the order, or any individual anti-social behaviour orders, also face possible eviction from the area and further civil interventions.