Another wide-ranging ramping up of police powers has been authorised after reports of “unknown youths” causing “harassment, alarm and distress.”

The dispersal order, the second such order in two days, will be in force across the Little Lever area, mostly around Market Street, the Tesco branch and The Avenues.

The order was authorised by Inspector Keiron Maddocks and comes just hours after a similar order was enforced in the same area.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “There has been a large amount of anti-social behaviour reported across Little Lever, mostly across Market Street, Tesco and The Avenues.

“Members of the pubic are reporting harassment, alarm and distress being caused to them by groups of unknown youths.

The Bolton News: A map showing where the order is in forceA map showing where the order is in force (Image: GMP)

“This order is necessary and proportionate to target, identify, and take appropriate action against those individuals responsible for this behaviour in this particular area.

“Anyone dispersed under this power will be referred to partner agencies and further preventative work will take place.”

The order will give police officers expanded powers, under the terms of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime And Policing Act 2014, to order people to leave the area.

The Bolton News: Little Lever shopping precinct, off Market StreetLittle Lever shopping precinct, off Market Street (Image: Newsquest)

The Little Lever order will be in place from noon on Saturday, March 23, to 11pm.

The same powers had been authorised across the same area from 2.30pm to 11pm on Friday, March 22, and comes a matter of weeks after a string of dispersal orders in the town centre.

In the week beginning March 4, Inspector Maddocks authorised dispersal orders giving officers expanded powers to order people to leave the town centre for four days running.

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At the time officers said that the order had been authorised as a response to increasing reports of “anti-social behaviour.”

When orders like these are in place they give police extra powers to tell people to leave certain areas during particular times of the day.

They also usually mean that extra officers will be deployed around the selected area both on foot and in patrol cars.

Anyone with any concerns or information can call police on 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.