A NEW order allowing police to disperse groups of people has lead to the arrest of four Gravesend youths.

Kent police and Gravesham Borough Council authorised the creation of a Dispersal Area at the Dickens housing estate and parts of the surrounding area.

The order, which was introduced on December 1, will run until June 2013.

It allows police to disperse any group of two or more people who are causing, or deemed likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress.

Since the order was made, two 15-year-olds and one 17-year-old, all from Gravesend, have been arrested and reprimanded for refusing to disperse.

A 20-year-old from Gravesend was also arrested for intent to damage property with a catapult.

He has since been bailed.