A dispersal order is being put in place in Chelmsford in response to concerns about anti-social behaviour, drugs, and knife-related crime.

The order, which will be in place from 2pm on Friday, April 5 until 2pm on Sunday, April 7, will cover a large part of the city centre and Moulsham areas.

It will give police officers the power to order anyone believed to carrying out anti-social behaviour to move on from the designated area.

Ch Insp Gerry Parker, District Commander for Chelmsford and Maldon, said: “I know that issues like anti-social behaviour, drugs and violent crime are a real concern for people living in Chelmsford and they’re a concern for me too.

“We’ve seen an increase in this kind of activity in the city centre and it’s something I’m determined to tackle.

“My officers are working hard to detect and disrupt criminal activity in our city and this dispersal order is another measure we’re able to utilise to do that.

“In addition to this, my officers continue to carry out stop and searches. In February they carried out 268 across Chelmsford and Maldon which is more than anywhere else in the county.

“We also have our Op Raptor teams who are relentless in their work to tackle gang crime, seizing drugs and taking weapons off our streets, while through Op Overwatch we’re disrupting violent and organised crime.

“Earlier this week three teenagers were made subject of an injunction banning the from parts of the city which shows we’re using all the options we have available to keep people in Chelmsford safe.”