GANGS of youths who scare people away from a high street with their intimidating behaviour can now be told to leave the area.
Police have decided to enforce a dispersal order in Ruislip Manor following a barrage of complaints about gangs xassing people who both live and work in the area.
The order means that anyone under the age of 16 will be expelled from, and not be allowed to return to, a designated area between 9pm and 6am if they are intimidating or xassing others - see panel.
Stephen Bird at The Art Gallery in Victoria Road, said: "The dispersal order is a good thing because there has been a lot of trouble, and it will bring people back on to the Manor in the evening hours.
"We have to get those people to see this order is being enforced. If the police are around to be seen they will believe it."
Mustafa Ogretici, owner of Aquarius in Victoria Road, said: "The dispersal order is fantastic and I am very for it, but it should have been done a long while ago. It will help elderly people who are frightened to walk down the high street."
The order took effect on Monday and it will run until December 15.
The police can tell people in a group to leave the area and not to return for 24 hours.
Failure to comply can mean six months' jail or a fine of up to £2,500.
Sergeant Pete Law said: "This area has been a cause for concern to local residents and businesses.
"It is our intention to enforce this order robustly and reassure the local residents."
Ed Shaylor, Hillingdon Council's head of community safety, said: "The council believes that joining with the police to implement powers like dispersal orders is an important method of making sure that residents can enjoy the borough without being xassed or intimidated."
