POLICE have taken action to kick groups of youngsters out of Hamble after reports of anti-social behaviour.

The force issued a dispersal order, which will allow officers to move on groups of more than two people in the Hamble waterfront area.

Those acting in an anti-social manner within the exclusion zone – which stretches from the Hamble Yacht Services Refit and Repair to the Hamble River Sailing Club – will be dispersed from the area for up to 48 hours.

The measure is taken when police believe members of the public have been intimidated or anti-social behaviour is a persistent problem in the area.

The force confirmed it had received reports of anti-social behaviour in the Hamble waterfront area but did not reveal the details of the incidents.

Residents said large groups of youngsters were seen jumping off the pontoon near the foreshore car park and onto boats.

Officers were seen moving on a group of about 10 youngsters near the foreshore car park yesterday afternoon.

A local resident, who did not want to be named, said police arrived to the scene shortly after 2.30pm.

And added: “The youngsters were climbing on the pink ferry and somebody called the police. They arrived and the youngsters all ran off. Police caught a couple but I think they were denying they were in there.”

Residents said similar incidents happened every year in Hamble but this year the situation had escalated.

Natalie White, 36, from Fareham, a kitchen manager in Hamble, said: “It’s happening every day at the moment. All they are doing is jumping on and off the pontoon, the lifeboat and verbally abusing people.

“It’s dangerous. There are no street lights so it gets dark and it becomes dangerous if they are jumping on and off the pontoon. They don’t know what they are jumping into.”

Police said the order will be in place until 9.30pm today.

Sergeant Matt Moss from the local neighbourhood policing team said: “We’ve had a number of reports recently of anti-social behaviour by large groups of young people across Hamble’s waterfront areas. This dispersal order will give us the power to deal with anyone involved and reduce the impact on local residents.”