JOINT DISPERSAL ZONE EXTENDED TO REDUCE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

16 January 2007

Police powers to ban troublemakers for up to 24 hours in Bloomsbury, Holborn and Covent Garden wards have been extended.

Camden Council has agreed to extend the six-month dispersal zone that was first jointly agreed between Camden and the City of Westminster on July 16, 2006. The extension will come into affect on January 17, 2007, and will run until July 16, 2007.

The dispersal powers can ban from the zone groups of two or more people who are engaging in anti-social behaviour for up to 24 hours to diffuse anti-social behaviour related problems.

Failure to comply with the dispersal powers issued by a police officer is an offence and could lead to an arrest.

The joint Camden and Westminster dispersal zone aims to make the public feel safer and to reduce incidents where members of the public feel intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed.

Positive feedback has been received from the local community in relation to the power reducing drug activity and anti-social behaviour in the dispersal zone. Due to the success of the dispersal notice residents were keen to have it extended.

In addition to dispersal notices Camden Council, police and other agencies have a number of other tools used to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Under the dispersal powers a police officer can:

Request groups of people to disperse either immediately or within a specified time period.
Request people whose home is not in the area they are congregating in to leave the area either immediately or within a specified time period.
Stop anyone whose home is not in the area they are congregating in from returning to the area for up to 24 hours.

The previous joint dispersal powers ran from July 17, 2006, until January 16, 2007.

Following a review of the dispersal powers statistics showed between July 17, 2006, and December 19, 2006, 740 dispersal directions had been given and 59 arrests for breach had been made.

Cllr Ben Rawlings, Camden Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety, said:

"The joint dispersal notice is one example of the partnership work between Camden Council, the City of Westminster, and the police that is vital in tackling the problems in the West End and addressing incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour."

“The dispersal zone is there to help police deal with trouble before it starts. It is one part of a wide range of work we are doing to make the Bloomsbury, Holborn and Covent Garden wards a safer place for both residents, visitors and businesses.”

Superintendent Martin Richards, who leads Camden Police's Partnership Unit, said:

"This cross-border extension will further assist us in combating anti-social behaviour together and improving the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, commutes and socialises in those areas."

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