POLICE will have extra powers to disperse people from Colchester town centre after a weekend of disorder in the town.

The order has been authorised in response to a "large number of incidents of disorder and alcohol related issues" in the town centre.

The dispersal order will come into place on Friday evening and remain in place until Sunday evening.

The whole of the wider town centre area is covered, from Cowdray Avenue in the north to Southway in the south.

A dispersal order grants police and PCSOs greater powers to stop groups of people gathering.

They are able to move groups of residents on from a specified area if they have committed or are likely to commit antisocial behaviour.

Gazette: A map of the dispersal order zoneA map of the dispersal order zone

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A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Following a weekend where Essex Police attended a large number of incidents of disorder and alcohol related issues in Colchester town centre, a dispersal order will be in place for a 48 hour period between 7pm on Friday and 7pm on Sunday.

"The order, mapped in the picture does not prevent residents or visitors being in the area but it will give officers the power to exclude anyone behaving in an antisocial manner.

"Breaching any direction given under the order is a criminal offence for which you could be arrested.

"We want to ensure everybody living in and visiting Colchester can do so safely and enjoyably."