Dispersal Powers are outlined in which Act?

• A. Public Order Act 1986
• B. Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003
• C. Police Reform Act 2002
• D. ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Answer: (D)

Dispersal powers give officers the authority to remove people from a location to prevent or stop anti-social behaviour, and to designate areas where those orders apply. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the modern, nationwide framework for these powers. It allows police to issue dispersal notices to individuals or groups, designate dispersal areas, and require people to leave for up to 48 hours, with penalties for non-compliance. This Act streamlined and expanded dispersal tools to respond quickly and effectively to ASB, across England and Wales.

Older legislation, like the Public Order Act 1986, did include some dispersal-type provisions in specific disorder incidents, but those powers are more limited and fragmented compared with the comprehensive framework created by the 2014 Act. The Police Reform Act 2002 and the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 cover other policing and ASB topics, but they do not establish the broad dispersal powers now used in everyday policing.