Dispersal order issued over anti-social behaviour

Police said there had been an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour at Stechford Retail Park

Police have been granted extra powers in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour in Birmingham.

A Section 35 dispersal order was put in place in Stechford on Tuesday evening and will remain in force until 20:45 BST on Thursday, West Midlands Police said.

A force spokesperson said it followed an increase in anti-social behaviour around Stechford Retail Park, Lea Village and Glebe Farm Road.

The powers were already used to disperse a number of teenagers on Tuesday night and extra officers will be in the area over the coming days to provide reassurance, police said.

A Section 35 order grants police extra powers to disperse people from an area if officers have reasonable grounds to suspect they are there to engage in crime or disorder.