POLICE in Rainham have moved on 13 people following the creation of a dispersal zone in the Station Road and shopping area.

The dispersal order came into force on December 18 and local officers have been regularly patrolling the area on foot to ensure that groups of people do not act anti-socially.

The partnership action, involving Medway Council, is aimed at curbing the problem of anti-social groups congregating in the area. The order, which will stay in place until February 18, is part of an ongoing drive by the Medway East Neighbourhood Team to reduce nuisance behaviour and enhance the quality of life for residents and traders in the area.

The team, which includes local Police Community Support Officer, Linda Colthorpe, have been working in the evening to ensure that they are on hand at key times to police the dispersal area effectively.

Insp Kay Maynard, who heads the Medway East Neighbourhood Team, said: "This action is about making the Rainham area a safer place and not simply moving the problem elsewhere.

"The dispersal order is just one tool available to us to help set acceptable levels of behaviour.

"With that in mind, we have been working with our partners to identify other projects that will help us reduce nuisance crime and anti-social behaviour even further.

"This has involved investigating the potential for a youth club in the area.

"I believe that this initiative has made a positive difference in the community and I would like to thank all of my team who have worked unsociable hours to police the area for their efforts in making Rainham an even safer place to work, live and visit."

The dispersal order is intended to prevent the gathering of antisocial groups, and those found to be acting in a way to cause alarm to others in the area will be moved on by the police.

* People who have been dispersed are not be able to return to the area for 24 hours. If a person who has been ordered to disperse and returns to the area within the enforcement period and their behaviour is likely to cause intimidation, they may be arrested and charged under the act.

* The order applies 24 hours a day within the two months and should not be confused with a curfew order. Similarly it applies to everyone and not just young people. To be dispersed any group must be, or have been, behaving anti-socially and there is no power to disperse people simply for “hanging about” or “loitering”.