Bermuda Police Service have hailed the success of their initiative to battle anti-social behaviour in the Cambridge Road area of Somerset.The two-week trial run of a plan that was put in to place to combat the gathering of groups of young men in the area ends tonight, and police said they had seen a “dramatic reduction of men congregating and an increased feeling of safety” in that time.Residents in the area, meanwhile, are celebrating a move that has given them “peace and quite” for the “first time in ten years” and has created an environment were the Charing Cross tavern does not have a large crowd gathered outside the doorway.Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one resident who has lived in the apartment complex directly across from Charing Cross for 12 years said: “For the first time in more than ten years I have peace and quiet outside of my home.”Another resident added: “I’ve definitely noticed a difference, I just hope it lasts.”Such is the success of the initiative that police have announced their intention to extend it for another month, however, they insist that the West End is not being singled out as a trouble spot, rather it is seen as a starting point for an Island-wide approach to combating anti-social behaviour.“Since the authority to disperse was given the police have not been caused to give a single warning to any person as a result of the immediate compliance that has been experienced,” said a police spokesman.A senior officer put the lack of problems down to the police’s proactive approach in giving people advanced notice of their intentions.“The law is clear and we believe this initiative has been successful to date because it makes people compliant, we haven’t had any problems at all,” he said.“That’s why you haven’t seen anyone in court for committing an offence under the new law.”The officer went on to say that starting at the West End “doesn’t mean that Cambridge Road was singled out” as alleged by a group of men who frequent the area and were interviewed by The Royal Gazette earlier this month.“What better way to start than at one end of the Island and then move right through to the East End,” said the officer. “West End police officers know to use their common sense and good judgement in these situations.“When someone gives a legitimate reason [for being there] we move on but in most cases when asked to move there is immediate compliance,” he said.In a statement yesterday Bermuda Police Service said that a number of area residents “have telephoned Somerset Police Station to give thanks for the relief”. And at least one business has reported “patrons who were staying away from the premises have returned, reporting that they feel more comfortable doing so”.Today’s notice of the extension of the police powers in accordance with Section 110 of the Criminal Code Amendment Act 2010 has been issued under the authority of Acting Police Superintendent Sean Field-Lament. Acting Chief Inspector Robert Caldwell’s name is also listed.In yesterday’s statement the BPS also noted that it “deems it to be both appropriate and proportionate to extend use of this authority in-line with its mission of making Bermuda safer”.“These are positive results and Acting Chief Inspector Robert Cardwell thanks the men who would normally congregate in the area for their compliance, as well as the community for their continued support and participation in resolving the problems that caused alarm and distress,” the statement read.“The Bermuda Police Service continues to work in partnership toward solutions that will sustain what has already been achieved with the officers of the Western Area Community Action Team, the Cambridge Road Community Group and other stakeholders in the community.”