POLICE believe a special operation against anti-social behaviour was successful in deterring troublemakers during the half-term school holidays.

A dispersal order covered Barry town centre between midday on Monday, February 20 and midday on Wednesday, February 22.

South Wales Police enforced the order as a "preventative measure... in response to anti-social behaviour witnessed on Kings Square" the previous weekend.

Dispersal orders give officers and PCSOs extra powers to instruct anybody who is causing - or is likely to cause - harassment, alarm or distress to leave an area.

They also have the power to seize any property which officers suspect is being used to cause anti-social behaviour.

Anyone who returns to the area after being moved on risks arrest.

Following the dispersal order, local policing inspector Mark Henderson, from South Wales Police, told the Barry and District News the crackdown had led to improvements.

"Several young people were instructed to leave the area and their parents were spoken to," he said.

"At the weekend there was one report of anti-social behaviour compared to 12 the weekend which indicates that the dispersal order has been effective, and we hope the local community has noticed an improvement.

"We urge parents and guardians to remind their young people about not getting involved in anti-social behaviour."