Fears were aired today that teenage yobs could once again run riot on Canvey.

Residents are praying temporary powers given to police earlier this year to ban under-16s congregating in the town after 9pm will be renewed.

At the end of September a six-month dispersal order will run out and an extension has not been confirmed.

A 50-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, of Linden Road, said: "I can't believe we could be back to square one.

"Surely the police and the council know that as soon as these teenage yobs are left to roam the streets again then all the problems are going to return."

Canvey was one of the first towns in the country to introduce the order. Police were allowed to disperse groups of two or more who could be intimidating, harassing, alarming or distressing others.

But the order ends on Wednesday, September 29.

Acting Insp at Rayleigh Police Kevin Diable-White said: "If we want to extend the order then it has to be on the same grounds as before.

"Currently on Canvey the number of incidents are down and criminal damage is also down."

Published Wednesday September 1, 2004

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