Dispersal order success as 11 troublemakers are forced out of city centre
POLICE GRANTED EXTRA POWERS AFTER REPORTS ON ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
POLICE have said last weekend’s dispersal order covering Derby city centre was a success after officers moved 11 troublemakers away, with one person likely to end up in court.
Derbyshire police issued a 48-hour dispersal order covering a large section of the city centre between Friday, June 14 and Sunday, June 16.
Officers said the order was issued due to increasing reports of begging and anti-social behaviour and so that people could travel around the city centre “without worry”.
A dispersal order allows officers extra powers to direct groups to leave an area if they are involved in anti-social behaviour or disorder, or if members of the public are being harassed, alarmed or distressed.
Derbyshire police and Derby City Council say they are both working hard to try and make the city centre a safer place to visit and live.
Police say they monitor hotspots daily following reports by members of the public and businesses.
Inspector Rachel Fowkes, who leads the city centre policing team, said: “The city centre policing team, working alongside partner agencies, have been making strides to tackle anti-social behaviour in the city centre in recent weeks. Dispersal orders are one of the tactics that is used to move those along who are behaving in an anti-social manner.
“Some of the reports that the force has received have been related to people being drunk or appearing to be on drugs, as well as nuisance begging. The dispersal order means that officers can order people out of a defined area and not return for a specific amount of time. If they do so, they risk arrest and prosecution.
“Over the weekend officers dispersed 11 people – with one person breaching an order to leave which will see them summonsed to court in due course. “Alongside dispersal orders officers also conduct regular hotpot patrols of known areas that are seeing issues around anti-social behaviour – both in the city centre and across the county.
“Those patrols are based on reports from the public and businesses – and we rely on the public to keep us informed to ensure that we are able to target our resources where they are needed most.
“We are using the powers at our disposal to ensure that those who live, work, and visit Derby are able to do so without worry. “The work we are doing is only part of the answer to the problems that are being faced. However, we are clear that we will do all that we can, along with our partners, to ensure that Derby remains a welcoming and friendly place to live and visit.”
Earlier this week Derby City Council said it was “on a journey” to improving the safety of the city centre and transforming it into a vibrant and go-to destination.
A spokesperson said: “Our teams work closely with the police to address anti-social behaviour and lots of work is being done in collaboration with our partners to tackle the challenges which affect city centres up and down the country. Our public protection officers have a consistent presence within the city centre, working closely with the BIDS [business improvement districts] and other local organisations to create a safer city for everyone.
“As well as this, we recently partnered with Kingdom Local Authority Support, who are working to tackle environmental and antisocial crimes such as littering, dog fouling and fly-tipping.
“The issuing of dispersal notices forms part of our wider approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and is just one example of the proactive work which is being done to make our city centre a more attractive and safer place to be.”
We will do all that we can...to ensure that Derby remains a welcoming and friendly place to live and visit. Insp Rachel Fowkes