GANGS will be banished from a Southampton estate as police step up their bid to stamp out anti-social behaviour in the area.

Officers have joined forces with the city’s civic chiefs in a bid to slash the number of incidents in Millbrook, with the threat of fines and prison sentences for offenders.

Police have reinstated a dispersal order on the estate, which gives street patrols the power to remove groups of two or more people from the area for a 24-hour period.

Anyone who refuses to leave can be fined or put behind bars.

A similar order was put in place in the Windrush Road and Waveney Green areas last year, but this came to an end on January 28.

Since then the number of complaints of antisocial behaviour have soared, with reports of youths aged 13 to 17 gathering outside shops, throwing stones at windows and drinking alcohol on the streets.

The reports have now prompted officers to reinstate the dispersal order, which will be in force until September 18.

Safer Neighbourhood officer PC Sarah Miller said the police were working with Southampton City Council to “come up with long-term solutions” to the problems in Millbrook.

Anyone who witnesses antisocial behaviour taking place on the estate is being urged to call Southampton police on 101.