LOCAL authorities and organisations in Tavistock are being asked to give their opinion on introducing new legislation to deal with anti-social behaviour in the town.

The police are considering making an application for a Section 30 dispersal order covering the whole of the town and a specific one for the Bedford Car Park, which has been a particular problem area.

Many towns in North and West Devon are looking at anti-social behaviour legislation to see which works best for them.

Tavistock police sergeant Dave Anning said the police, borough and town council in Tavistock were trying to find the right thing to do for the town, if indeed any changes needed to be made at all.

'The right thing to do is to ask people and compare that with what we know about anti-social behaviour in the town,' he said.

'The Section 30 legislation is something that our local policing area commander is looking at as a way of tackling anti social behaviour generally.'

Section 30 legislation allows police to disperse groups of two or more people acting disorderly or likely to do so from a designated area. Constables already have individual powers to move people on for a period of up to 48 hours if they are being loud and larey, a piece of legislation which works particularly effectively on Friday and Saturday nights, when any trouble usually occurs.

A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said the authority was committed to working in partnership with the police to tackle anti social behaviour and dispersal orders can play a part in helping to keep communities safe.

'Devon and Cornwall Police are considering making an application for a Section 30 dispersal order covering the whole of Tavistock town for a period of 3 months, which is proposed to start in early December,' they said.

'The police are also planning to seek a separate Section 30 dispersal order specifically covering Bedford Car Park in Tavistock for a longer period of six months. This is in response to on-going anti-social behaviour problems in the car park.'

She said the council would consult before making a decision on either of these orders.