TAVISTOCK Town Councillors have voiced opposition to police plans to deal with anti-social behaviour across the town.

The police are considering making an application for a dispersal order covering the whole town and an individual one for Bedford Car Park, and are currently seeking the opinions of local authorities and organisations.

The order allows police to disperse groups of two or more people acting disorderly or likely to do so from a designated area.

But, although councillors last week agreed a dispersal order is needed for Bedford Car Park, they did not see the need for one covering the rest of the town.

Cllr Philip Sanders said the order would give the town a bad image: 'In my understanding, to justify such an order there needs to be fairly clear evidence of specific, ongoing problems. I am not aware of any problems in the town in general.

'This would not be a good representation of our town, and suggests that we've got all manner of disorder going on. It would give the town and area a bad name having these issues ordered and it would be such a blot on the town of which I am so proud.'

Cllr Ted Sherrell agreed, saying that years ago when a nightclub was running, there used to be problems on a Saturday night but not so much anymore: 'In recent times there's only been a few occasions of trouble. You've got to have quite good eyesight to see anyone after dark most nights. In general it is most unusual. I don't see any evidence that this is needed.'

But councillors agreed that the dispersal order was needed for Bedford Car Park, which has been an ongoing problem area.

Cllr Sanders said: 'I propose that we continue to pursue the order for Bedford Car Park as it is a regular and substantial problem area. Police have tried hard to deal with it, but it is still a problem.'

The town council will now inform West Devon Borough Council of its support for the order on Bedford Car Park but not for Tavistock town.