Dispersal order

A power under section 34 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 allowing a constable (with authorisation from an inspector or above) to direct a person to leave a specified area and not return for up to 48 hours where their presence or behaviour has contributed to, or is likely to contribute to, members of the public being harassed, alarmed, or distressed.

Updated 16 October 2026: from 26 October 2026 a dispersal direction under s.35 may exclude a person for up to 72 hours, and a police officer of at least the rank of inspector must review any direction exceeding 48 hours; the inspector's authorisation under s.34 itself remains limited to 48 hours (Crime and Policing Act 2026, s.3(2), commenced by SI 2026/960, reg 4).