New dispersal order for Shrewsbury town centre as police called to busy Quarry
Around 50 young people were dispersed from a popular park in Shrewsbury after soaring temperatures drew people outdoors.
Police said that they were called to the Quarry in Shrewsbury at about 9.30pm on Wednesday, to reports that a group of around 50 young people were congregating in contravention of lockdown rules.
The park has been extremely busy since rules changed on Monday allowing people to meet in groups of up to six, or in larger numbers if only including two households.
While the majority of people in the Quarry have been in smaller groups, larger groups of youths gathered on Monday and Tuesday drinking and listening to music as temperatures neared 20C.
Officers had been patrolling over the weekend, using a dispersal notice to break up groups, but were not visible in the park on Monday afternoon when the area was far busier.
However West Mercia Police has now once again introduced a dispersal notice and said officers would be increasing patrols.
A spokeswoman for West Mercia Police said: "Officers attended and a Section 34 dispersal notice was put in place until Friday, April 2 and the group were told to leave the area.
"The Safer Neighbourhood Team will be carrying out high visibility patrols in the area throughout the coming days."
A dispersal notice can last 48 hours maximum, and failure to comply would be a criminal offence.
