Barnsley Curfew: Police Defend Under-16s Order

South Yorkshire Police have denied imposing a blanket ban on under-16s in Barnsley town centre at night after such a move was branded "just plain wrong" by a civil rights group.

In a statement on its website, the force said the town centre dispersal order would only be used to remove troublemakers.

"It will give police the discretionary power to take home young people under 16 who involved in antisocial behaviour and out on the streets in a dispersal zone between 9pm and 6am, and are not accompanied by a parent or responsible adult," it said.

Civil liberties campaigners accused the police and Barnsley Metropolitan Council of unfairly targeting and criminalising young people.

Nick Pickles, director of Big Brother Watch , said it would severely undermine respect for the law.

"Dispersal orders are a blunt, crude tool that at best moves the problem to somewhere nearby," he said.

"It is a sign that the police have lost control of the streets and yet does nothing to restore either the community spirit or respect for the law that has been lost."

Emma Norton, a lawyer at campaign group Liberty , said the policy may be unlawful and urged families who want to fight it on human rights and discrimination grounds to contact them.

"The police should target offenders of whatever age, not show disrespect and distrust of a whole generation," she said.

"This policy is challengeable in the courts and we urge any family affected by it to contact Liberty after Easter."

Police will also be able to use the powers to disperse groups of two or more people from anti-social behaviour blackspots and target rowdy night-time revellers or football fans.

Inspector Julie Mitchell, of South Yorkshire Police , said: "Many interventions have been put in place by the police and partners and, although some measures have had some success, nuisance behaviour still persists on an almost daily basis.

"The common theme that appears to cause the most concern is rowdy, inconsiderate and abusive behaviour.

"This behaviour is often from people in large groups and has led to members of the public and business community reporting the feeling of being harassed and intimidated.

"The order is not intended to be applied without discretion; we want to encourage residents and visitors to come into the town centre for retail and leisure."

Last year, a nightime curfew in Bangor town centre in Gwynedd targeted unaccompanied under-16s, prompting campaigners to brand it a "draconian" move more suited to "North Korea than North Wales".