POLICE have banned a teenage troublemaker from Cheltenham's High Street.
The 14-year-old from the town, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged by officers for knowingly contravening a dispersal order.
An order was brought into law on November 30 last year to give police powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in St Mary's churchyard, Jenner Gardens, Clarence Street and the High Street from Primark to Ambrose Street.
It gives police the power to tell troublemakers to leave the area and not return within 24 hours or face arrest.
The teen had been issued with three orders to leave the area under section 30 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 over a 10-day period.
But last Thursday he was arrested on suspicion of being back in the area before his most recent order had expired.
He was charged with knowingly contravening the order and bailed to appear at Gloucester Youth Court on June 13.
Sergeant Tim Hutchinson, the officer responsible for the area, said: "This dispersal order allows us to address anti-social behaviour in the area and target the small number of individuals who cause problems and nuisance to other shoppers, residents and businesses.
"These orders work best with the community's support, which we have been thankful for, and we ask them to continue giving us information about those committing crime and disorder in the town."
Sergeant Hutchinson said the police will be looking at the possibility of applying to extend the six-month order, which is due to expire at the end of this month.
He added: "The dispersal order has given us some effective powers to address anti-social behaviour, but our work in the area will continue and we will be reviewing the impact it has had and whether it's appropriate to run a similar initiative in the future."
During the duration of the order, officers have handed out 20 informal warnings and 20 formal orders for people to leave the area. The 14-year-old is the only person to be arrested for breaching an order.
Posters are placed in the areas affected by the dispersal order advising people of the order and what it means to them.
Kay Dean, the manager of Acorns Children's Hospice charity shop in the High Street, said she believed the order had made a difference.
She said: "Young people are still around but not as much."