BURNLEY Police used a ‘dispersal order' to stop problems in the town centre after minor disorder in Charter Walk shopping centre at the weekend.

The order was imposed on Saturday night and ran until 9pm last night.

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The action was due to youths causing issues at McDonald's throwing plants around and within Charter Walk cycling in an anti-social manner.

It covered and area bordered by St James’s Street from Marks and Spencer to Hall Street down Hall Street to Bankfield to the junction of Curzon Street along Curzon Street back to Marks and Spencer.

The power under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 gives uniformed police officers and designated Police Community Support Officers the authority to deal with individuals engaging in anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder.

The power applies not only when they have occurred or are occurring but when they are likely to occur and in any locality.

It enables officers to disperse individuals without a requirement that two or more people be engaged in the offending behaviour.

There is an additional power to confiscate items associated with the behaviour of the person being directed to disperse The power is available if the person appears to be aged 10 or over.