FIFTEEN youngsters were given dispersal orders as police cracked down on anti-social in a town centre.

Officers said around 80 children and teenagers were ‘engaged with’ during the action in Accrington town centre over the weekend.

Children as young as 11 were given dispersal orders for a range of offences, including using abusive language, banging on windows and causing a hazard to motorists by running around car parks in large groups.

Police said the 48-hour dispersal order had been effective in cracking down on anti-social behaviour and have not ruled out applying for more in the future.

They will also see if any of the youngsters moved on over the weekend are repeat offenders and write to their parents if appropriate.

Crackdown on 'unacceptable' behaviour of children as young as 11 in Accrington

PC Anna Gavela, who ran the operation, said: “We issued about 15 requirements to leave the area and overall had significant success using the dispersal order. In general there were less problem youths out in the town, and we have had feedback from local businesses to the effect that they experienced very little anti-social behaviour and there was much less litter in the immediate area than usual.

“We are very happy with the way the operation went. It is definitely a tool we will consider in future. We are always happy to discuss a way forward with residents and businesses within the legal framework available to us.

“The behaviour of the youths was mainly using abusive language towards members of the public and local business staff, but also things like banging on windows to cause a nuisance and causing a hazard by running around on car parks in large groups. They were also running around inside the bus station and being abusive towards staff.

“The youths given direction to leave were aged between 11 and 15.

“I would stress that 11 and 12-year-olds are very young to be hanging around the town centre after dark.

“We are going to look at the list of young people we spoke to and, if appropriate, request that Hyndburn Borough Council issues community penalty warnings to their parents or carers.”

A dispersal order is a measure the police can use to deal with anti-social behaviour.

The orders can be put in place for up to 48 hours and give officers the power to require anyone whose behaviour is causing a nuisance or distress to the public to leave a designated area or face being arrested.