New laws allowing Police to confiscate "hoodies" and disperse groups hanging out were tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday.

The amendments to the Criminal Code also increase officers' powers to stop and search as Government attempts to get to grips with the soaring gang violence which has rocked the Island in the recent months.

The legislation — promised by Attorney General Kim Wilson last month — "gives power to the Police to disperse groups who hang out in places known for anti-social behaviour and other crimes for the purpose of harassing and causing people distress".

Police will be able to remove teenagers under 17 who are in known "hang out" areas after 9 p.m. without their parents, and send them home for their own safety.

Officers will have the right to seize any clothes which conceal people's identity in public places, such as a hooded top or face scarf, even if the suspect is not wearing the item at the time. Anyone refusing to hand over the offending item faces a fine of up to $2,500.

The amendments also mean the time limit for an inspector to authorise a stop and search increases from 24 hours to two weeks; and superintendents from 24 hours to a month.

Another piece of legislation tabled yesterday is the Jurors Amendment Act, which widens the pool of people from which a jury can be chosen.

Categories of people previously exempt from jury service, who will now be added to the pool, are: former members of the Police service and Reserve Police, former prison officers, religious ministers, vets, executives of legal firms, barristers and attorneys who don't practise criminal law, justices of the peace, spouses of lawyers and spouses of Police and prison officers.

Sen. Wilson has previously said the move is needed after cases such as the Kellon Hill murder trial were delayed because of the difficulty selecting jury members from those available under the current system.