Police will be enforcing a weekend-long dispersal order across Brentwood and Epping Forest amid rumours of an illegal horse and trap racing event. 

The order gives officers the power to direct anyone suspected of causing anti-social behaviour to leave the area. 

If they refuse, police have the power to arrest them for breaching the dispersal order. 

It will be enforced by Essex Police from 6am on Saturday, September 7 until 6am on September 9. Police have shared an outline of the area affected by the dispersal orderPolice have shared an outline of the area affected by the dispersal order (Image: Google Maps, Essex Police)

It comes after police received information of a planned unauthorised horse and trap racing event. 

Horse and trap racing is a form of equestrian racing in which the animals race at a specific gait while pulling a two-wheeled cart occupied by a driver. 

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Epping Forest will also be under the same dispersal order conditionsEpping Forest will also be under the same dispersal order conditions (Image: Google Maps, Essex Police) Inspector Jonathan Main said: “Racing on public road networks is an offence and will result in us taking enforcement action.

“We will not tolerate the use of our district’s roads for an illegal sporting event and we will deal with offences robustly. 

“The dispersal order will allow us to protect our local communities from any anti-social behaviour.”