15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of assault as dispersal order enforced in Blackpool

A Section 35 order - which gives police power to ask a group to leave an area if they believe they are doing something wrong - came into force at 6.45pm today (June 23)

The announcement of the dispersal order comes after police revealed a 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of an assault in the area at around 7.09pm today.

No details of the incident have been released at this time.

A spokesperson for Blackpool Police said: "As of 6.45pm this evening a dispersal order has been authorised in Blackpool and will last for 48 hours.

"This is to tackle yet more Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour the community is suffering.

"A 15-year-old boy has just been arrested on suspicion of an assault in this area."

A map published on the Blackpool Police Twitter page shows an area between Talbot Road and Church Street marked in red where the dispersal order will be enforced.

Police had already stepped up patrols in and around Caunce Street, Milbourne Street and Gorton Street due to a spike in anti-social and criminal behaviour, which culminated in a vicious attack on a police officer earlier this month.

The officer had been responding to complaints in the area when he was ambushed by youths and kicked in the head while lying on the ground on June 10.

The officer lost consciousness in the attack and had to be rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for treatment. A 14-year-old boy was later arrested and charged with assault.

Following the attack, the force said it would use "all the powers available to us to target this group and we will put offenders before the courts".

Lancashire Police have been approached for comment about the assault that took place this evening.