Police in Bexleyheath are preparing to launch a 48-hour crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Until Thursday (January 18), police in Bexleyheath have been authorised to order anyone acting in an "anti-social" way to leave the Broadway.

Police will be authorised to carry out direction to leave notices from 3pm today (January 16) until 3pm on January 18.

In November police were called a "number" of times to a report of a mass brawl between youths in the Broadway.

Witnesses said they saw teenagers running at each other and fighting near the clock tower. Police confirmed they attended but no offences were disclosed, and no arrests were made at the time.

In this new crackdown, police can arrest people for committing an offence under the Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Police Act.

The crackdown will have officers implementing 'direction to leave notices' under the Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Police Act.

A spokesman for Bexley Police said: "This means that individuals that act in a manner which is resulting or likely to result, in any member of the public being harassed, alarmed or distressed, or likely to cause disorder or commit crime, will be directed to leave the area.

"The authorisation means that a constable can also direct the individual to surrender to the constable any item in the person’s possession or control that the constable reasonably believes has been used or is likely to be used in behaviour that harasses, alarms or distresses members of the public."

Police can serve the notices to anyone over 10 years of age. Police can also return under 16 year olds home or to another place if they are behaving anti-socially.

The area being targeted in the crackdown stretches from Gravel Hill to Pickford Road.

The maximum penalty is three months behind bars, and a potential fine of £2,500.

Failing to hand over surrendered items is also a criminal offence carrying a penalty of up to £500.