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06/08/2006 POLICE HOPE DISPERSAL ORDER FOR CORBY ESTATE WILL REDUCE INCIDENTS | ||
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| Police in Corby hope a Dispersal Order which has been implemented on the town’s Kingswood estate will be as effective at reducing incidents of anti-social behaviour and juvenile nuisance as a similar Dispersal Order last summer. Historically, the Kingswood estate has suffered from disproportionately high levels of juvenile nuisance and criminal damage. Last year, the Kingwood estate accounted for 20 per cent of all reports of anti-social behaviour in Corby, and from April to June this year, this was still around 15 per cent. Problems have included youths intimidating local residents and causing damage, as well as riding motorbikes on parkland and along alleyways, among other complaints. Some local residents have been reluctant to report incidents for fear of reprisals by groups of youths who congregate in certain areas. Now Police hope to emulate that success with a new Dispersal Order, which has been authorised by the Commander of Northamptonshire North Police Area, Chief Superintendent Dean Smith and Chief Executive of Corby Council, Chris Mallender. It began on July 22 and will last through the summer holidays, the autumn half term and past the period of potential firework nuisance until November 21. As part of the Dispersal Order, officers can ask groups of two or more people to move on and leave the area if they fell their presence is causing or likely to cause anti-social behaviour or harrassment. Officers can also ask those people not to return for a period of time up to 24 hours. Failing or refusing to move away when asked is an offence for which they can be arrested. Additionally, Police can take home anyone under 16 years who is in the Dispersal Zone unsupervised by a responsible person over 18 between 9pm and 6am. Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Special Constables will be carrying out high-visibility patrols and using the Dispersal Order powers where appropriate. Sergeant Nigel Roberts, of Corby Police Community Action Team, said that the aim of the Dispersal Order is to deal positively with juvenile nuisance for the benefit of local people. "The Kingswood estate has long suffered from high levels of anti-social behaviour and juvenile nuisance and the Dispersal Order last summer was very successful, leading to a big reduction in incidents and having a positive impact for some time after it ended. "Anti-social behaviour should not be allowed to dominate the lives of the residents of this estate and they should not have to tolerate the nuisance, noise and crime that this leads to. "During the four months of the Order, regular officers, Special Constables and Police Community Support Officers will be deployed to positively deal with anti-social behaviour and nuisance by dispersing offenders and taking them home to parents if necessary. "I hope local residents will see the Dispersal Order as a very positive measure that should reduce the problems and incidents, prevent them escalating during the summer holidays and create a more tranquil and pleasant community," he said. Councillor Pat Fawcett, Leader of Corby Borough Council said: "I am very pleased that this positive and successful action is being re-introduced. Corby is making great strides to improving life for all of us and this is another example of the pro-active work being put in place to make this happen. We continue to work with the Police and other agencies to reduce anti-social behaviour across the Borough." There has been a consistent and coordinated approach to dealing with problems in the Kingswood area, including designating it as a Policing Priority Area, a Zap-Zone for anti-social behaviour and as the location for the new Safer Communities Team, which was launched on 17 July. | ||
