Dispersal order renewed for Derby City Centre

As part of a continuing effort to tackle anti-social behaviour inside Derby city centre, Derby Community Safety Partnership and the Derby City Centre Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team have made a re-application for a dispersal order.

The renewal of a Section 30 dispersal order has been made for Derby City Centre and will run for a further period of six months starting from the 1st February 2010 and will be reviewed before July 31st 2010.

It follows concerns from the local community of anti-social and nuisance behaviour including criminal damage, street drinkers, begging and nuisance behaviour in the locality

The order, introduced by Derbyshire Constabulary in conjunction with the Derby Community Safety Partnership, gives uniformed police officers and Police Community Support Officers the power to move on groups of people congregating in an area if they suspect possible disorder or harassment. Children can also be taken home if they have or are likely to cause any nuisance behaviour or are not under the supervision of a responsible adult.

People who ignore the order or who return to an area they have been dispersed from can be arrested. In the last six months of the most recent order there have been a number of arrests for breach of the order and some of these have resulted in sentences issued by the courts.

Inspector Richard Keene, who's in charge of policing in the area, said: "We have got to the point in Derby city centre where the continued use of the dispersal order is necessary because of a minority of people creating problems and seriously affecting the quality of life of businesses, visitors and residents in the area.

"We have implemented these orders in different areas of the city and they have proved very successful in helping to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"This is not a measure we introduce lightly and we continue to support projects and outreach work being done in the local community but we feel it is necessary to help to ensure that the majority of people can go about their business in safety and confidence.

"We will be enforcing the order and dealing positively with those who are found in breach of it. Any alcohol seized will be immediately disposed of and letters relating to inappropriate and nuisance behaviour generated and sent to parents and carers of children misbehaving in the locality.

"These letters will result in a referral to the Anti-social Behaviour Team who can arrange for parenting classes and alcohol support where appropriate.

"The police will be deploying head cameras to record the behaviour they witness and these recordings can be used in criminal prosecutions as well as to show parents the extent of their children's anti-social behaviour and drunkenness."

Chief Inspector Sunita Gamblin, head of Community Safety in Derby said: "No one going about their lives in a reasonable and orderly manner has anything to fear.

"Parents should however be challenging their children and asking where they are and what they are doing."

To contact the City Centre Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team please call: 0345 123 33 33 or email: city.neighbourhoods@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk