POLICE are cracking down on crime on a city estate after it emerged that almost 2,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour have been reported in the last two years.

Youths who are found to be causing trouble in Wonford will be moved on under a police order put in place to combat the problem.

Police say anti-social behaviour in the residential area is still a persistent problem.

Figures obtained from police by the Echo show that there were 1,998 incidents of anti-social behaviour in Wonford, between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. Of those, 957 incidents were recorded in 2009, and 1,041 in 2008.

Powers to disperse groups of young people in the area came into force on Friday.

It is the fifth time that police in Exeter have used powers in Wonford under Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act, 2003.

The latest order will run for six months — until January 16.

Police Constable Chris Hogg, beat bobby for Wonford, said: "We still have a persistent problem with anti-social behaviour in Wonford.

"We have groups of young people hanging around, sometimes outside the shops. They leave litter, sometimes chuck things about and are abusive to people as they walk past.

"They may be smoking and drinking. It is behaviour that people obviously don't like. It also covers minor criminal damage by groups of people.

"Last time we had a Section 30 dispersal order in place it reduced incidents by 12 per cent."

The order has been brought in to coincide with the summer holidays — traditionally the police's busiest time for antisocial behaviour when young people are off school and have to amuse themselves.

It will also cover other flash points including Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night — when police have problems with youths throwing eggs, playing with fireworks and frightening residents — and Christmas holidays.

Constable Hogg said he has built up a picture of the anti-social behaviour in the area by looking at police data for the last two years. He said: "This will give us the powers we need to disperse people."

The order permits police officers and community support officers, in uniform, to order any person to disperse within the designated area if they have been identified as being a member of two or more persons who either have caused or are likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others.

Those that live outside the designated area will be ordered to leave it until a specified time, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

Those that live inside the area must disperse immediately and not congregate with others, in a way that may cause harassment, alarm or distress to others, for a specified time.

The order was approved by Superintendant John Vellacott and Philip Bostock, chief executive of Exeter City Council.