A DISPERSAL order for The Stow area has been put in place this afternoon. YH went to Harlow Police Station to speak to Essex Police Superintendent, Andy Mariner and asked him where the investigation stood as of Tuesday August 30th.
A DISPERSAL order for The Stow area has been put in place this afternoon.

YH went to Harlow Police Station to speak to Essex Police Superintendent, Andy Mariner and asked him where the investigation stood as of Tuesday August 30th.

With a number of persons bailed until October, YH asked him, as there were no bail conditions, what measures would be put in place to prevent them from returning to Stow area.

Supt Mariner was keen to stress that everyone was innocent until proven guilty but that a dispersal order would be put in place and extra patrols in force for the area.

A dispersal order in Harlow has been put in place by Essex Police following a number of reports of anti-social behaviour.

The order, which has been obtained following the agreement of Harlow Council, gives police enhanced powers to reduce antisocial behaviour problems in defined areas. The order covers The Stow shopping centre in Harlow and will be in place for 48 hours from 7pm today, Tuesday August 30.

The order gives police officers the power to order anyone to leave the area if they have reasonable grounds to believe the person is harassing residents or likely to be involved in crime or disorder.

Anyone who refuses to leave the area once directed can be arrested and, if convicted, they could face up to a three month prison sentence and £2,500 fine.

Superintendent Andy Mariner said: “Over the last two months we have received reports of nuisance and anti-social behaviour in The Stow, which have affected the quality of life for residents and shopowners.

“These complaints relate to groups of youths congregating in the area, riding bikes and motorbikes and generally acting in an anti-social manner.

“We have been carrying out daily patrols and working together with Harlow District Council’s community safety team to address these issues and take appropriate enforcement action as necessary.

“Those patrols were increased following the tragic death of a man who was assaulted in the area at the weekend, and in our discussions with the public we have been made aware of further incidents of anti-social behaviour that had not been previously reported to us.

“Dispersal orders are just one of the tools available to us to tackle such behaviour, and we have successfully used them in elsewhere in Harlow.

“We want to reassure residents that we are working to tackle this issue and would ask them to please report incidents to the Harlow Community Policing team on 101 or online at www.essex.police.uk/do-it-online. Dial 999 in an emergency.”