Dispersal order in place to stop illegal car meet

A dispersal order has been put in place on two roads in a county to try and stop an unlicensed car meet taking place.

Bedfordshire Police said the action had been taken to stop antisocial behaviour after a meeting was posted online, with the order covering the Woodside Link in Houghton Regis and the A6 Barton-le-Clay bypass.

It would be in place until 20:00 BST on Sunday.

The force said there would be a "heightened police presence within Bedfordshire, as well as coordination with local CCTV operators, to deal with those who wish to cause unnecessary disruption".

It comes after there were calls for speed cameras to be installed in the area to deter car meets.

The force said: "If any vehicles are used in a manner causing alarm, distress, annoyance to members of the public or likely to endanger the safety to members of the public, we will deal with the driver/car accordingly and robustly."

Dispersal orders give officers the power to order a group of two or more people to leave an area if they are suspected of committing, or likely to commit, a criminal offence or antisocial behaviour.

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