Tougher police tactics against loiterers and antisocial behaviour have proven a success, according to residents of troubled West End neighbourhoods.Last year’s get-tough campaign by police, invoking Section 110A of the Criminal Code, allowed officers to order people to move away from designated public places.But the deployment of Section 110A powers elsewhere on the Island will depend on how badly residents want it, according to Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva.Mr DeSilva said the right of police to use Section 110A remains active, although the powers expire at the end of this year unless Government extends them.The initiative was applied to Cambridge and Somerset Roads in May 2012, and the White Hill area four months later.Mr DeSilva added: “The two areas in Sandys where we instituted the powers have remained relatively incident-free, but we continue to check in with residents and disrupt antisocial behaviour before it becomes entrenched.“Due to the strict and restrictive nature of the powers, the police give careful consideration to their use, and then only with the full support of the affected community.“Whether or not we designate any additional areas in the future depends entirely on whether the powers are extended and where the residents of the area agree that it is a necessary tactic to overcome serious antisocial behaviour. It is not a power to be taken lightly.”Philip Barnett of the Cambridge Road Community Group described Section 110A as “an excellent start”.“Some intimidation has occurred,” Mr Barnett added. “The police are aware of that and have taken steps to make sure the enforcement continues.”He said the police Community Action Teams had also been “very well involved”.“Obviously what they’re trying to do is deal with is the groups hanging around, talking to them where possible to make sure they’re being neighbourly, talking to individuals who are causing trouble for others. It’s about the right of a community to live respectfully with their neighbours.”Some residents continued to complain about bikes being raced in the area, he said, and the community group had asked Public Works to add more speed bumps.“Section 110A worked well but you can’t just stop everybody. Everybody has to remain engaged,” Mr Barnett said.He added: “It’s unfortunate that there are certain individuals who can’t go out of their parish because of their associations. There does need to be a greater engagement with them so that they can do an honest day’s labour. With the amount of cruise ships coming into that end of the Island, there are 10,000 to 15,000 extra people, and potential for work.”One year after the campaign started, a resident close to the old trouble spot of White Hill deemed the police effort a success.“We used to have a problem with children around the MaxiMart, and they were always hanging around the Masonic Lodge — behind it and in front of it,” she said. “My bedroom faces right over there. It’s quietened quite a bit.”She added: “Things could be better. The roadside used to be premier property — at some points you feel like packing up and moving. But I’ve lived here all my life.”Asking not to be identified, a Cambridge Road businessman said he’d had no issues with groups of young men loitering.“It used to be more intimidating around here,” he said. “I know the police chased them away from there and they’ve cleaned up the area. I don’t know where the guys are hanging out now. At least they’re not bothering the tourists.”A nearby resident said: “Every now and then you’ll get some of the younger ones stopping traffic. But ever since they started, it’s been good. It’s quietened down.“I guess the biggest problem with these guys is not that they caused problems per se. They tended to intimidate people by their mere presence, especially tourists. But a lot of these guys also help tourists out. It’s just their demeanour.”