A LARGE student party expected to attract up to 300 guests was stopped before it even started by council enforcement officers.

Antisocial behaviour officers used new powers for the first time to prevent a party organised by Bournemouth University students taking place at Parklands, Branksome Hill Road, on Saturday.

Bournemouth council were alerted to the party plans after the organisers wrote to neighbours, warning them of potential disruption. Council officers and PCSOs turned up to the building on Saturday morning to find the party preparations underway.

The party was to be supported by Smirnoff, who employ several Bournemouth students to act as "brand ambassadors" and promote their products to other students.

Council officers issued a 48-hour Closure Order for the site, which made it a criminal offence for anyone other than residents to enter the site for whole weekend. This was the first time Bournemouth council had used new powers under the Antisocial Behaviour and Policing Act 2014 to prevent potential problems.

Reuben Dear, of the antisocial behaviour team, said students were not happy with the council action but most were polite and there was just a small minority that were abusive.

After securing the area, officers parked their vehicles on the road and stood outside the gates to provide a visual deterrent to any potential visitors.

"During this time, we stopped a number of people accessing the site apart from residents," he said.

"I believe that this was a very successful and positive action that we have undertaken. One event closed down, no arrests or Section 35 Dispersal Notices distributed and the community not suffering harassment, alarm or distress."

The council's swift action has been praised by councillors. Talbot and Branksome Woods councillor Philip Broadhead said: "Students are obviously an important and vibrant part of our town, but a street party in a residential area involving potentially hundreds of people would have been very disruptive to the local residents.

"This serves as an excellent example of the use of new powers under the Antisocial Behaviour and Policing Act 2014 of action being able to be taken before an event."

A spokesman for Bournemouth University said: "We do work hard to make students aware of their responsibilities as adults living within the community.

"Last weekend, when we were made aware of the proposed party in Parklands, we considered all the factors and felt it appropriate in the circumstances to highlight it to the environmental health officer."

The spokesman said the university worked closely with and contributed funding to the council and police to help "build and maintain a positive and collaborative relationship with the community".

The Echo contacted Campus Industries, who run the brand ambassadors scheme, who declined to comment.