POLICE in Neyland have been granted new powers to move 'boy racers' on, in a bid to clear Brunel Quay of troublemakers.

The first of its kind to be granted across Dyfed-Powys, the Section 30 dispersal order will cover Brunel Quay, Picton Road, part of High Street, Station Road, Green Lane Car Park, Brunel Quay and Dolphin Court.

It means groups of two or more people believed to be displaying ‘anti-social behaviour’ can be made to leave the area if asked to do so by a police office or Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).

Sergeant Martin Vaughan, of Milford Haven Neighbourhood Policing Team, said the area had been known as a trouble hot-spot for some time, with concerns going back to 2011.

“Neighbours were being affected by people driving in an anti-social way, using obscene language, and making noise late at night, and it was also stopping other people from using the area,” he said.

“People’s quality of life was being seriously affected, and local people had had enough.”

Covert and visible patrols were carried out by police, who also met with local residents to hear their concerns.

Sgt Vaughan said he was pleased that officers now had the tools to curb the problem.

“Up until now, if a member of the public reported anti-social behaviour, our only option was to attend, and more often than not it had stopped, and there was nothing else we could do.

“I’m really pleased we’ll now be able to do something positive that will improve the lives of local residents,” he said.

But, he said the order was not designed to stop young people ‘having a good time’.

“This isn’t to stop people using the car park, or meeting up in groups, this just to deal with anti-social behaviour,” he said.

“If you’re not causing a problem, we’ve got no issue with it.”

Mayor of Neyland Simon Hancock welcomed the news, saying he hoped it would “give the residents of Picton Road some reassurance that any form of intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress will not be tolerated”.