Police have been given extra powers after several fights broke out between students in Croydon.

Many incidences of anti-social behaviour were reported on Wednesday when students from different schools came to the area.

Police had to split up the fights that broke out.

A section 35 dispersal order has since been authorised around Ashburton Park, Oasis Academy Shirley Park, and St Mildreds Parish Church until 11.59pm today (September 13).

Section 35 gives a police constable and a community support officer in uniform the power to exclude a person from an area for a period of up to 48 hours with a police inspector’s authority.

Croydon MPS (@MPSCroydon) tweeted on X (formerly known as Twitter): “A section 35 dispersal order has been authorised by Inspector Holliday for the below-outlined area.

“Over the last week or so there have been several incidences of ASB in the area which came to a head on Wednesday when about 30 students from different schools came to the area.

“A number of fights broke out and had to be split up by police.

“Your local officers will be out on patrol preventing ASB.”