Police issue dispersal order in Nursling amid crack down on car meets after previous incidents of 'street racing' and 'harassment'

The order will cover Nursling, including Nursling Industrial Estate, from 6pm this evening to 6pm on Sunday.

Officers have the power to direct a person who has committed, or is likely to commit, anti-social behaviour to leave a specified area and not return for a specified period of up to 48 hours.

Any items used to conduct anti-social behaviour can also be seized, under section 34 of the order.

Hampshire Constabulary vowed to tackle unauthorised car meets.

Many reports of anti-social behaviour took place in January, after roughly 50 people brought their vehicles to a Marks and Spencer car park in Hedge End.

Multiple cars were seen racing each other at speed, and doing ‘donuts’.

Inspector Chris Taylor, Test Valley District Inspector, said: ‘There have been previous incidents of large gatherings of cars meeting in Nursling.

‘Street racing, damage to road surfaces, noise and dangerous driving has been reported causing harassment, alarm and distress to local residents.

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‘Our officers will continue to have an increased presence across hotspot areas in Nursling to deter events such as these large-scale car meets from taking place. If we encounter these events, we will do our utmost to educate those in attendance and take robust enforcement action where necessary.

‘Our operation is not aimed at people meeting in their cars peacefully, simply those disrupting local communities and acting in an anti-social manner.’

These powers can be extended beyond the 48 hour window.