POLICE have issued nearly 20 dispersal orders, banning beggars and problem drinkers from around Bradford city centre for 48 hours.

The blitz this week followed complaints from the public about, and observations by City Neighbourhood Policing Team Sergeant Graham Dyson of rowdy behaviour.

Sgt Dyson said 18 dispersal orders had been enforced between Sunday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon - eight in Forster Square, around the retail park and rail station; and five each in Rawson Road and Great Horton Road, near to Bradford College.

They were issued to 17 men and a woman, aged between 21 and 47, mostly for begging and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

Sgt Dyson said: "They were drinking in public places, being noisy and causing disruption to people, and asking people for money. We decided to issue the orders after complaints were made from members of the public to patrolling officers, and my own view of people's anti-social behaviour when I was working on Sunday afternoon.

"They were all dispersed from the city centre and warned that if they returned within 48 hours, they would be in breach of the order and could be arrested. Nobody has breached their order."

Sgt Dyson added: "We haven't used the powers that often until this weekend. We try to give people the opportunity to leave without using the orders.

"When the orders have expired we will put another one in place if it is required. Hopefully people get the message. What this is doing is collating evidence for the future if we need to obtain Criminal Behaviour Orders, or we can go to court and get permanent exclusions."