Groups causing anti-social behaviour in an area of Beccles are being targeted by Suffolk Police and Waveney District Council.

PCs and PCSOs are to patrol a particular area of the town and will have the power to move on groups, after setting up a dispersal zone though the Anti Social Behaviour Unit.

The dispersal zone will cover Rigbourne Hill, Sandy Lane, Centre Close, Stanton Close, Swines Green, St Georges Road, Coney Hill, Castle Hill, Banham Road, Clerks Piece, High Leas, Endgate Close and Darby Road.

The zone has been introduced after the police and council received a number of complaints over the last three months about large groups, aggressive behaviour, criminal damage and underage drinking.

Insp Nick Aitken of Suffolk Police said: 'We are responding to concerns of residents in the area and are working with the council's anti social behaviour unit to resolve these issues.

'This dispersal order gives us an additional method of dealing with unacceptable behaviour and will help to improve the quality of life for the local community.

'To ensure we police this order as effectively as possible, I ask residents to continue to notify us of any anti-social activity taking place in the area.'

Councillor Mary Rudd, Waveney cabinet member for community health said: 'We will not tolerate large groups of individuals who think it is acceptable to cause anti-social behaviour in Beccles.

'We will continue to support residents and where there is sufficient evidence against any individual for causing anti-social behaviour, we will take strong enforcement action and even consider eviction if necessary.

'We are asking the community to continue reporting incidents to the police or the council. If they do we will take action.'

Those causing anti-social behaviour in the dispersal area will be instructed to leave and not return for a period of 24 hours. If they return and continue to cause problems, they can be arrested.

Anyone found guilty of breaking a direction under a dispersal order can face up to three months imprisonment or a fine of up to �2,500.

The order will run from February 1 and will run until July 31.