TOUGH legislation which gives police the power to ban boozed-up yobs from parts of Ipswich has been used more than 30 times since it was introduced a month ago.

TOUGH legislation which gives police the power to ban boozed-up yobs from parts of Ipswich has been used more than 30 times since it was introduced a month ago.

Cops can order trouble-makers to leave a particular area of the town by serving them with a Direction to Leave notice - even if they have not committed an offence.

The power, which comes from Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, allows officers to serve the notice on any person they feel may cause alcohol-related violence. Anyone refusing to leave the area can be arrested.

Today, the force revealed that since officers in Ipswich started handing out the notices on December 4, 36 people have been banned from trouble hot-spots.

Of those, nine men were arrested for failing to comply with the order. Three have subsequently been charged and will appear before magistrates in Ipswich later this month.

A police spokesman claimed the figures should act as a deterrent to town centre revellers who cause trouble.

He added: “The aim of the legislation is to make being out and about safer for people.

“Hopefully, the figures will deter those intent on causing trouble by illustrating the fact that police are using these powers and will continue to use these powers.”

The police also have the power to photograph anyone issued with a Section 27 notice.

Ipswich police used the tactic during December as part of its Staysafe with Nightsafe campaign.