Rising problems with theft, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour has lead police to bring in additional powers so they can move people on from part of Dartford.

A Dispersal Area is to be introduced in the Temple Hill area to give officers more powers to deal with anti-social behaviour.

It will run for three months, January 31 to April 30, and is expected to be ratified by Dartford council at a meeting on January 24.

The order has been jointly authorised by Kent Police and Dartford council under the powers of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

It means any group of two or more people found causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress can be moved on by a uniformed officer.

Under 16s who aren’t with a responsible adult between 9pm and 6am can be taken back home. Failure to comply could lead to a fine and/or three months imprisonment.

The Dispersal Area is being brought in after an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour at Temple Hill. There has been more than 80 calls in the last three months.

Reports of theft and shoplifting have also increased in the Joyce Green and Littlebrook wards in the last six months.

Paul Cooke, Detective Inspector of Dartford’s Community Safety Unit, said: ‘A number of calls of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and intimidation by groups of young people have been reported and this order allows us to deal effectively with this problem.

“Kent Police uses these measures when there have been large numbers of problems reported and have a good success rate in helping to tackle local issues.

“This dispersal area is just one tool that will help us to ensure offenders and law abiding residents are clear – this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.”

Councillor Jeremy Kite, leader of Dartford council, said: “We asked the police to consider a Dispersal Area for Temple Hill because a very small number of individuals are creating a real nuisance for the local community.

“These orders have proved to be a common-sense and effective way of dealing with the problem when we have used them elsewhere.

“Local residents just want to see these nuisances removed from their streets and that’s exactly what the Dispersal Area does.

“Temple Hill is a great community and I’m not going to stand by and let a small number of troublemakers disrupt it.”