POLICE have issued an order to prevent any problems of anti-social behaviour in Okehampton town centre over Christmas and into the New Year.

The Section 30 Dispersal Notice means that officers can request people who are causing or likely to cause anti social behaviour to leave the area and not return for a period of 24 hours.

This notice has been used in many towns previously and most notably over the festive season.

Okehampton officer Corrine Sargent said it was a preventative measure not a reactive response.

She said: 'Incidents of anti- social behaviour can arise at this time of year but we hope to avoid that with this order.'

She said groups of people or individuals would be asked to leave if it looked as if problems might occur, they did not necessarily have to be drinking, she said.

The dispersal notice which just applies to the town centre will be running from now until March.