Police Given Extra Powers in Mountain Ash This Weekend

South Wales Police officers in Mountain Ash have once again been granted extra powers to deal with youths causing anti-social behaviour this weekend.

The decision has been made following a series of incidents on the town which have caused concern among residents and local businesses.

The dispersal order, which is granted under the Anti Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, will apply to those aged 10 years and over and it will be in place for 48 hours from 7pm on Friday, November 19, 2021, to 7pm on Sunday, November 21.
Under Section 35 of the Act, police officers and PCSOs will be able to instruct anybody who is causing, or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to leave an area. They will also have the power to seize any property which officers suspect is being used to cause asb.

Local Policing Inspector John Sullivan-Alexander, said: ”Dispersal powers are an effective tool for us and when dealing with young people they often come hand in hand anti-social behaviour referrals which involve interventions with the families of those who cause us concern.”

Last month, a Section 35 dispersal notice resulted in five people being directed to leave the town centre which had an immediate impact and led to a decrease in calls and incidents. Over the past few weeks in Mountain Ash, 14 individuals have been referred to the region’s antisocial behaviour unit.

A referral to the unit means that a child’s behaviour is under formal management. It triggers an intervention programme which is designed to identify and address the root causes of somebody’s behavioural issues and can involve intervention from a number of different support agencies.

Local policing Inspector John Sullivan added: “We are working hard to tackle the issues we are experiencing. Our officers will be highly visible throughout the town this weekend and will be working closely with the local authority to utilise the town’s excellent CCTV coverage to identify troublemakers.

“Parents of any young person involved can expect a knock on their door and a very uncomfortable conversation about why their child thinks it is okay to cause alarm and distress. They will be required to work with us or face more serious consequences.”