A NEW EXCLUSION zone for troublemakers in Southampton is being introduced after the scheme was successfully piloted in other parts of the city.

The Northam estate will become the fourth area to have the zone introduced.

Police identified the estate as a hotspot area for antisocial behaviour and have introduced the so-called dispersal area in a bid to stamp out nuisance crime caused by groups of youths.

The first dispersal areas were introduced by Hampshire police and Southampton City Council at the end of July in Irving Road, Maybush, Hinkler Road at Thornhill and Bitterne Precinct, and are now being rolled out to other areas that are also plagued with youth-related crime.

Officers will be able to disperse groups of two or more people in areas where anti-social behaviour is a significant and persistent problem or where members of the public are being intimidated.

If any of those warned to move out of an area return within 24 hours they risk up to three months in prison or a fine of up to £5,000. Officers are also able to return young people under the age of 16 to their homes if they are found unsupervised by an adult in the designated areas between 9pm and 6am.

Since the powers came into force in Southampton around 100 people have been stopped and groups dispersed.

Posters highlighting the new designated area and explaining how dispersal orders work have been produced and will be displayed in the Northam area.

Sergeant Patrick Holdaway said: "Dispersal orders have been used to great effect so far, in particular in the Hinkler Road area.

"They are also having a deterrent effect and clearly encouraging youths to stay away from these areas, where they know if they gather they will be dealt with.

"We are hoping that it has a similar effect in Northam, which has been troubled by youth nuisance over the past few years.

"We are constantly looking at new initiatives and new ways of tackling anti-social behaviour in partnership with the City Council, and are committed to making the communities of Southampton safer and more pleasant places to live and work in."