Police in Stratford have been granted the power to disperse groups from the Windsor Street car park area of the town. During the past year officers have worked with partner agencies including Stratford District Council to address the problem of drink related anti social behaviour at the entrance to the car park. Groups of between two and 15 street drinkers have been congregating, particularly between 3pm and 7pm, creating general noise and litter problems and making visitors fearful for their safety. In the past eight months there have been 25 complaints from members of the public, 18 of which were between the hours of 3pm and 4pm. During that period officers attending the scene have confiscated many bottles and cans of alcohol. The Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 provides police officers with powers to disperse any groups of two or more persons whose presence they believe has, or may result in, any member of the public public being intimated, harassed, alarmed or distressed. The dispersal order for the Windsor Street area, covering the whole of the multi storey car park and coach parking area, has been agreed by the local authority and approved by a senior police officer. It came into force on Wednesday August 1 and runs for six months until February 1 2008. Speaking about the order Sgt Lucy Sewell said: "Drink related anti social behaviour has been a problem in this area for several months and we have tried a number of ways to resolve the problem, including high visibility patrols, notices and confiscating alcohol. "Our aim is to protect the community from fear and distress and I believe that this dispersal order will help us to do that."