POLICE hope new dispersal zones will repeat the success seen in one of the Bromley borough's towns.

Groups who congregated in Petts Wood throughout the summer could be dispersed by officers because of powers given to them under the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act.

The order, which ended last Sunday, was put in place as a response to complaints received from residents about disorder in the town.

During the period the dispersal zone was in place the number of crimes reported dropped by 53 per cent, from 130 in April to 60 in October.

The dispersal zone covered the area within the Petts Wood and Knoll ward boundary and a small area in the Farnborough and Crofton ward to the south side of Place Farm Avenue.

A zone was set up for the entire Biggin Hill ward on October 30 and will run until January 6 next year.

Another dispersal zone covers the area between Elmers End and Clock House stations and runs up to Chaffinch Road.

It came into effect on November 10 and will run until March 9 next year.

A zone came into effect for the Anerley Vale area on Monday and will run until May 12 next year.

It covers the Belvedere Road area between Cintra Park and Waldegrave Road and goes up to Crystal Palace train station.

Bromley police's superintendent in charge of operations Matt Bell said: "We use dispersal zones because they give police the power to make people leave the area and not come back, rather than things having to escalate into a fight.

"I think they work really well and put out a clear message people are not welcome.

"The result tends to be people do not hang around causing problems.

"So as long as dipersal zones are used thoughtfully they will be a success."