Police have declared a no-go zone in part of Plaistow as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

More than a dozen roads have been made part of a designated dispersal zone following complaints from residents and businesses.

Police will be able to tell groups of more than two people who do not live in the area to leave and not return for up to 24 hours.

The order will run until September 1 and anyone who does not comply faces a jail term of three months and a fine of up to �2,500.

It affects all roads contained within the area of High Street, North Street, Glasgow Road, Tweedmouth Road, Stirling Road, Edinburgh Road, Herbert Street, Swete Street, Kennedy Close, Chetherton Terrace, Stock Street, Atlas Road and Victoria Road.

Sgt Kevin Lawrence from Plaistow North Safer Neighbourhoods Team said: “I am delighted that the dispersal zone is now in place giving police appropriate powers to move troublesome groups from the area who are causing anti-social behaviour and intimidating the residents and businesses.

“We have had great success with other dispersal zones in other areas in Newham and I hope to see similar results in Plaistow North.”

The aim of the zone is to prevent and disrupt anti-social behaviour in the area along with identifying known trouble makers and gathering intelligence, he added.