Christmas clampdown by Barnstaple police
The force has been granted a Section 30 dispersal order, giving its uniformed officers the right to tell any groups of two or more people to leave an area in the town for up to 24 hours. If anyone ignores a police order, they can be arrested.
PC Tim Quick said the order, which has been agreed by North Devon Council's joint interim chief executive Steve Pitcher and Superintendent Stuart Lander, was being put in place from next Thursday because a small number of people tended to cause trouble during the festive season.
He said: "It's about preventing anti-social behaviour by groups in and around the town centre. It's a message to come and enjoy yourselves, but there is always a tiny minority who try to muck things up.
"Barnstaple town centre has issues with anti-social behaviour at Christmas."
The police already have powers to move on people aged over 16 suspected of being involved in alcohol-related bad behaviour. But this order applies to children and people who have not been drinking .
PC Quick said it was the first time a dispersal order had been sought for the Christmas season, but a Section 30 was granted for the period of the town fair earlier this year. He hoped the measure would largely act as a deterrent. "Mostly, it's about prevention," he added.
The order will run from Thursday, December 11, to Monday, January 5.
A force spokesman said the order is part of a package of measures which include extra officers on high visibility patrols and specific operations to deal with events such as the New Year's Eve celebrations.
Comment on this story