A teenager convicted of assault and shoplifting has been banned from standing in public places in groups of three or more.

The 16-year-old boy from Herne Bay has been given a criminal behaviour order after being found guilty of the offences.

The order, which will last 18 months, bans him from being in a group of three or more in a public place between 7pm and 6am unless he’s accompanied by family, police or local authority staff.

It also prevents him from entering any Co-op or Tesco stores in Herne Bay and Whitstable.

Detective Inspector Vicki Tyler said the police is aware of other troublemakers and may attempt to hand them criminal behaviour orders.

“We were able to apply for this order in the courts because of information received from the public,” she said.

“Regardless of age, if someone is continuing to commit crime and behave anti-socially, we are aware how much of an impact that can have on a community, and we will take action to stop it.”

Failure to comply with a criminal behaviour order can be deemed a criminal offence and result in serving time in a detention centre.