Police impose dispersal order to deter anti-social behaviour in Hardwick

It comes following numerous reports of young children causing criminal damage to buses since the end of November.

This has involved throwing items at the vehicles while they are moving.

In addition, on Tuesday 9 December police received reports of young children setting fire to bins and throwing bricks at the fire engine.

Officers are continuing to review footage to identify those responsible and conduct highly visible patrols in the area.

This morning (Wednesday 10 December) officers from Stockton’s neighbourhood policing team executed a warrant at a property on Scurfield Road where cannabis, a Suron bike and a quantity of cash has been seized. Two women, aged 23 and 51, and a 26-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B and class C drugs. Following questioning they have since been released on conditional bail.

The dispersal order will be put in place from 4pm on Wednesday 10 December until 4pm on Friday 12 December covering the areas boundaries by Harrowgate Lane, Darlington Lane and Durham Road.

These powers will enable officers to direct anyone who is believed to be in the area to cause anti-social behaviour to leave the area and not to return for 48 hours.

This area is covered fully in the map below.

Local officers will be patrolling the area and any residents who have concerns are asked to speak to them.

Inspector Andy Vickers, from Stockton’s neighbourhood policing team, said: “I encourage parents and guardians to speak to their children to find out where they are and what they are doing and to ensure they are aware of how dangerous it is to commit this type of criminality.

“If you have information, please do get in touch either by calling 101 or visiting our website.”

When reporting information relating to the criminal damage, please quote reference number 234736 for Hardwick.

If reticent to come forward, information can be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.