POLICE have pledged to keep out yobs after announcing a trial to rid Marlow's streets of rowdy behaviour is being extended.

A 'dispersal zone', which gives officers the powers to send away troublemakers with the threat of arrest if they return, will continue until November.

And patrols are being stepped up outside the zone in two streets where anti-social behaviour has increased in recent months.

The zone was introduced around Gunthorpe Road in March for an initial six months.

Families had spoken of the misery caused by yobs, prior to the move.

Police and Wycombe District Council, which have worked jointly to stop residents' lives being blighted, announced it had been successful and has been extended for two more months.

Chief Inspector Colin Seaton, Deputy Area Commander of Thames Valley Police, said: "The dispersal zone is definitely having a positive effect and the number of calls from concerned residents has decreased since this has been in place."

Twenty-two youths were dispersed on five separate occasions in the first four weeks.

Numbers have dropped off since, with the police saying would be troublemakers have got the message, although more detailed statistics were not available this week.

Ch Insp. Seaton said: "We take all reports of anti-social behaviour very seriously across the district and will continue to respond to your concerns and reassure you that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

"Officers from the neighbourhood policing team will continue to actively patrol in the area to engage with local residents and ensure that the dispersal order is being adhered to."

Cllr Katrina Wood, Cabinet Member for Community, said: "We are pleased about the extension. Community safety is an ongoing process and although the implementation of a Dispersal Zone has improved the situation, there is more which needs to be done."

There have been increasing reports of anti-social behaviour from householders in Liston Court and Barley Way, outside the zone.

Police have stepped up patrols in the two streets.

Inspector Ray Wilks, based at Marlow police station, said: "In terms of anti-social behaviour, most of the reports we receive are along the lines of children hanging around in Liston Court or in the case of Barley Way it is a private estate and the complaint is usually young people passing through and making noise.

"We do take any complaint in relation to anti-social behaviour seriously and have subsequently focussed our patrols in these areas which has substantially reduced the reports we were getting." The zone remains in force until November 30. Call 101 to report any anti-social behaviour.

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