Boundary Tackles Anti Social Behaviour

Dispersal Orders address community safety concerns

:: James Frankcom ::
Boundary Estate residents have secured the imposition of a Dispersal Order in the streets around their neighbourhood on the borders between Bethnal Green and Shoreditch.

A Dispersal Order gives the police constables and PCSOs the power to ask groups of two ormore people to leave the area immediately and not return for up to 24 hours.

Simultaneously, a curfew on young people is also in effect in the Dispersal Zone, granting police and PCSOs the power to remove anyone under the age of 16 between the hours of 9pm and 6am who is not under the “effective supervision” of an adult and take them home.

The Dispersal Order and curfew, which both came into force on June 6th, was sought by the Weavers Safer Neighbourhoods Team in response to community concerns that members of the public, businesses and residents have been subject to harassment, noise and anti-social behaviour caused by groups of young people.

The external boundaries of the Dispersal Zone are: Boundary Street (West), Virginia Road (North), Swanfield Street (East) and Old Nichol Street (South), inclusive.

The Dispersal Order will remain in force until 31st August when it may be renewed. The Dispersal Order and curfew on young people are complemented by the pre-existing Controlled Drinking Zone already in force in the area which allows police to confiscate alcohol being consumed in the area.

Brendan Pinch, a local community activist and member of the Ward Panel told the East London News that the Ward Panel initiated the proceedings to acquire a Dispersal Order for their neighbourhood after what appeared to be a “turf war” broke out between rival drug-dealing gangs operating around Calvert Avenue where, he said, “local junkies” were selling drugs to youths from around the area as well as visitors from outside the area.

Brendan told us, “many of the youths involved either live on the estate or their parents used to live on the estate and they’re mostly doing stuff in cars.” He said the new order would only have a limited effect because it may “just push the problem into Hackney” (e.g. Shoreditch) and the dispersed persons may just come back the next day. As well as that it would also be impossible to disperse anyone who actually lives within the Dispersal Zone which is where many of the drug dealers are believed to reside.

Commenting on the new order, Police Sergeant Steve Mangham of the Weavers Safer Neighbourhoods team said, “Anti-social behaviour and intimidation won’t be tolerated and offenders will be dealt with robustly.”

“The Dispersal Zone means we can tackle anti-social behaviour which has been affecting the Boundary Estate. There will be extra police patrols and more CCTV to catch offenders.”

Youths refusing to move on would be committing an offence under the 2003 Anti Social Behaviour Act, which could mean three months’ prison and a fine up to £2,500.