A 'RISE' in anti-social behaviour has prompted police to increase patrols around Boscombe in the coming days.

Members of the Boscombe neighbourhood policing team will carry out high visibility patrols around Boscombe, Churchill Gardens and Holdenhurst Road to tackle the rise in ASB.

Officers will be able to use a section 35 dispersal order should they need to, which has been put in place.

This order gives the police the power to exclude a person from an area for a period of up to 48 hours, with an inspector’s authority.

This forms a part of Operation Benchmark.

It follows the launch of an investigation into a rape in Churchill Gardens. A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape after an incident shortly after 1am on Friday, September 15.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “Boscombe Neighbourhood Policing Team will be out on high visibility patrols around Boscombe, Churchill Gardens and Holdenhurst Road over the next coming days to tackle a rise in Anti-Social Behaviour.

“We have a section 35 dispersal order in place which will be used by officers if needed.”