Second dispersal order in city following burglaries
Police have issued a second dispersal order in Portsmouth within a week after a spate of burglaries led to three teenagers being arrested.
On Monday of this week, two 12-year-old boys had their bikes stolen, a 31-yearold was assaulted, a 17-yearold boy was threatened with a knife and assaulted, an 18-year-old man was robbed, and a 12-year-old boy had his phone stolen.
All those offences took place in Hilsea, and all within the space of about an hour.
Two 15-year-old were also victims of attempted robbery, and all incidents reportedly involved three males.
Later that evening, police could be seen near the junction of London Road and Northern Parade, searching a group of men.
A 16-year-old, a 15-year old and a 17-year old from Portsmouth were all arrested on suspicion of robbery and assaulting an emergency worker.
Portsmouth Chief Inspector Pete Smith said: ‘We fully appreciate how concerning this string of incidents will be to local communities and the distress that has been caused to the victims.
‘I want to reassure all residents that we are doing everything we can to investigate and identify and arrest those involved. Our detectives are across the city following all lines of enquiry available.’
In the wake of the offences, a dispersal order has been issued over almost the entire width of the city, from Powerscourt Road in North End to the Hilsea Lido.
The dispersal order was authorised at 5pm on Tuesday and will run for 48 hours until 5pm this afternoon.
The order enables police to deal with any issues of anti-social behaviour in the directed area more effectively. It gives officers the power to order a person to leave the area with no return within the specified time period.
Those who refuse to comply with the order are committing a criminal offence and are liable for arrest.
Individuals who are aged under 16 will be taken to their home address, and follow-up work will be done with their parents.
Last Thursday, another 48-hour order was implemented in the city centre, following a burglary at a shop in Arundel Street.