TRADERS and residents have spoken out about the 'terrible' anti-social behaviour in Shirley after police implemented a dispersal order.

The force issued the order for Shirley High street as part of their on-going work to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.

The order took place across two days and was implemented after 87 incidences of anti-social behaviour have been reported in the past five months in Shirley High Street.

One resident who wished not to be named has worked in the high street for 56 years and told The Daily Echo that anti-social behaviour is 'the worst that it has ever been.'

Under the dispersal order anyone who was acting in an anti-social manner was dispersed from the area for 48 hours.

Police told the Daily Echo that on October 20 they issued 10 orders and one man was arrested after breaching the 48 hour notice.

Police said: “We saw a significant drop in the number of reports concerning anti-social behaviour, so we know that our action had an impact."

Pete Gallagher who owns Make it Magic which is located in the High Street told the Echo that 'anti-social behaviour takes place all of the time in and outside of the shop.'

Daily Echo:

(Pete Gallagher outside Make it Magic in Shirley High Street)

He said: "I have worked in Shirley for 25 years and I don't think there is necessarily more anti-social behaviour but it definitely has got a lot more aggressive."

Pete said that a regular group of youths come into the shop and damage his stock.

He said: "They are so rude and have no respect at all, its ridiculous as we can't do anything about it."

Rick Singh, 39, has worked at GoMobile located in the High Street for the past five years and he told the Echo that a lot of youngsters climb on top of the roof of the shop.

He said: "anti-social behaviour is a massive issue on the high street.

"They are always climbing on to the roof and last year the shop windows were smashed in.

"I think this dispersal order is worth a good thing if there's a chance it could stop this."

A resident who wished not to be named said that they have seen groups of youngsters on the roof above Plested Pies.

Daily Echo:

They said youngster get access to the shop roof from an alley located behind the shop.

Another resident said they have seen kids on the roof of Superdrug

Inspector Paul Southam said: “The issue of anti-social behaviour cannot be dealt by the police in isolation and we are keen to ensure that we engage with people and make them aware of the help available to them.

“We are working hard with the council and charities to do this, as well as doing what we can to reduce the fear of anti-social behaviour for residents."

The manager of Southampton's YoBikes scheme has hit back at vandals after a bike was set on fire and left hanging from a basketball net in a Shirley park at the weekend.

Dave Munday admitted he was frustrated by the incident, which is one of a number involving YoBikes, and said part of the community cannot be trusted with the bikes.

Mr Munday told the Daily Echo: "It's very frustrating but it's part of the reason why we have taken the bikes out of some areas.

Mr There is a group in our community that cannot be trusted with the bikes."

He added: "We focus in on the areas where the bikes can be used as a service. We want to keep them in a good condition and have them in places where people are able to treat them in the right way."

Sarah Jones, a mother of two who lives in the Shirley area said: "The park was set up about eight years ago now by the National Lottery Good Causes, but over the past couple of years the equipment has been regularly abused."

She added: "Broken Glass and damage makes it unsafe for the children to play. We have a lot of concerns about our children playing in the area."

Mr. Munday confirmed he was still committed to Southampton last month, despite repeated acts of vandalism.

He also confirmed he is getting support from Hampshire police, who have been trained in how to spot a damaged or stolen bike.

As the scheme is only available to over-16s, police are also able to stop younger riders who do not have permission to use the bikes.

Daily Echo:

YoBikes, which cost £1 an hour to hire or £5 for the day, have been dubbed the “smart bike-sharing scheme”. The bikes are locked and unlocked with a free mobile app and docked at any rack in the city.

Southampton was the second UK city to adopt the scheme after its launch in Bristol.

Anyone with information on the incident can call police on 101.