Tough action is being taken to clamp down on nuisance youths and vandals in the St Radigund’s area of Dover.

The police and district council say they have received so many complaints about bricks being thrown at the windows of homes in the area, youngsters running across the roof of Buckland Hospital and other anti-social behaviour, that action has to be taken.

From Thursday, a dispersal order comes into effect for the next six months, giving police officers the power to order people to leave the area if they are found causing intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress.

Those made subject to such an order cannot return to the area for at least 24 hours, and young people under 16 can be taken home to their parents.

Those who ignore the order risk a three-month jail sentence, or a maximum £2,500 fine, under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

Over the last six months there have been more than 90 calls made to the police about young people and anti-social behaviour in St Radigund’s. Other calls have been made to police about young people, some under age, gathering and drinking in the area and causing a nuisance.

There have also been 60 reports of criminal damage, many of which have been linked to young people in the area and some of those involved in the criminal and anti-social behaviour are thought to be as young as 10.

Sgt Ian Swallow from Dover’s Community Safety Unit said: “It has got to the stage where police need to take further action to improve life for those living in St Radigund’s.

“Taking out a dispersal order is not something that we do very often but we have exhausted other ways of trying to curb the problem in this area.

“Our aim is that these groups of young people will be dispersed by our officers – many of whom will go home without further nuisance behaviour. Those that ignore our advice and warnings risk being put before the courts and being fined or even sent to prison.”

Signs explaining the dispersal zone are being put up in the area.