PROGRESS is being made dealing with anti-social behaviour issues in Walcot now a new security guard is on site and Asbos are being pursued for known troublemakers.

Groups congregating around Sussex Square have been responsible for a number of incidents since the summer.

A dispersal order was implemented in the area in July, giving officers the powers to move on anyone and arrest them if they fail to comply.

Since October, new anti-social behaviour laws have provided officers with a police dispersal power which can be used to disperse individuals causing a concern to provide short term relief to an affected community.

While that allows officers to deal with incidents instantly, people who have been identified as regular troublemakers have been informed that if they do not end their behaviour then the police will be pursuing anti-social behaviour orders against them through the courts.

Insp Charlie Ducker, of East sector, said: “We are pursuing anti-social behaviour orders against a number of individuals and those people have received written notification of that.

“There are ongoing thoughts as to how the youth element might be engaged to become part of the solution, and various partnership leads will be meeting in due course to discuss this.

“I remain resolute that Walcot will be well served by the statutory partners to address crime and disorder, and that the majority of law-abiding members of the community will regain their self-confidence to move freely and safely.”

A Swindon Council spokesman said: “We will be providing a security guard at the community library during the opening and closing hours to provide some reassurance to residents and members of the public who have been feeling under threat from a group who have been causing anti-social behaviour issues in the area.

“The guard will be there for three days a week when the library opens and closes to provide that reassurance.”

Today Peter Mallinson, the chairman of the Walcot community library, will be inviting some of the groups who frequent the area to discuss how best to come to a resolution.

“There have been long-running problems in the area, it is not something new, but I would like to propose a way forward,” he said.

“With goodwill on both sides, we may be able to put all this behind us.”