POLICE have created a no-go area for gangs of anti-social yobs in Kidlington – in an attempt to end months of trouble.

Officers will bring in a dispersal order on Monday, which will give them the power to move groups away from the area for 24 hours, if they have reasonable grounds to do so.

Police said a hardcore group of 12 to 15 youths had been behaving badly around the shops for about six months.

Last month more than 30 shops in High Street signed a petition calling for action following claims the teenagers were intimidating customers.

Sgt Colin Travi, neighbourhood sergeant for Kidlington, said: “People should be able to go about their day-to-day lives without fear of harassment or intimidation, and sadly there are some people in the Kidlington area that feel this has not been the case for them.

“I hope this order shows how seriously we take this matter and sends out a strong message to those who have been acting in an anti-social way that this behaviour stops now.”

Last night traders welcomed the plans and were hopeful it would solve the problem.

Local shopkeeper David Cox said: “Anything that goes some way to stopping antisocial behaviour is a good idea.”

The manager of Martin’s Newsagent, who asked not to be named, said: “I think it is a good idea and I hope it will sort out the problem.”

The order, which is being introduced in conjunction with Cherwell District Council, will allow officers to disperse groups and remove individuals aged under 16 from the specific area and take them home.

They will not be allowed to return for 24 hours and face arrest if they return before then.

The order, which covers all of High Street from Banbury Road to The Moors, as well as nearby car parks and cul-de-sacs, will be reviewed after three months, and could be in place for six months.

Sgt Travi said: “We know who the ringleaders and the followers are and we have made arrests and imposed curfews – but these have all been limited.”

He said there was no evidence to suggest the teenagers would not comply with the order and was confident it would have a positive effect.

In 2006, dispersal orders were introduced on the Peachcroft estate in Abingdon; around The Oval area of Rose Hill and Iffley Lock, in Oxford; and in Wheatley. All the schemes been hailed as successes by police and local people.

Nigel Morris, Cherwell District Council’s portfolio holder for community safety, said: “It will be used to resolve some of the immediate issues while we assess how best to deal with the problems reported by Kidlington’s traders and residents.”