A CONTROVERSIAL dispersal order covering the entire town centre has received a cool reception from Advertiser readers.

Support for the scheme, which was introduced last week, was lacking ,with just 35 per cent of people who voted by phone and online giving it their backing.

Sixty five per cent of voters felt the order was unfair and more than 400 people voted.

The new power is aimed at boy racers, street drinkers and aggressive sales people in the town.

It is the first time in Swindon a neighbourhood policing team has been given such an order for their whole patch.

Town centre community beat manager PC Andy Alexander said it was aimed at the kind of low-level anti-social behaviour that annoys people on a day-to-day basis.

But news of the order caused outrage among some car enthusiasts who claim they are given a bad name by boy racers.

PC Alexander said the dispersal order was what surveys and complaints had shown the public wanted.

When the Advertiser first reported the order PC Alexander said: "At the Wyvern Theatre car park area we have got a big problem with boy racers.

"All around that area there is accommodation with flats that didn't used to be there.

"The boy racers are causing a problem with noise and their driving is not the best. We have tried to talk to them but they go away for a few days and then come back.

"We have now got the council to close access to the car park at night. Because it's a public place and they're legally allowed to be there we had problems before but now we can use the dispersal order and move them away."

Those comments sparked a huge debate on the Advertiser website.

And Sara Jeapes, the founder of car club Top Secret Cruising, said she was tired of being tarred with the same brush as irresponsible and anti-social drivers.

"This dispersal order is doing nothing more than putting cars on to the streets searching for somewhere else to socialise," she said.

"I can understand that there are people that speed around and burn rubber but I am not one of them and don't think I should suffer because of an idiot in a car.

"Surely being in one place the police would know we are there and behaviour would be easier to police."

Police can move on any group of two or more people in the town centre who are causing harassment, alarm or distress. Anyone who ignores the rules can be arrested. The order is due to run until March 4 next year but it could be extended a further six months.