CROYDON issues 9th Dispersal Order this year

3/6/05 ic Croydon

The 9th Dispersal Order this year has been issued in Croydon covering Warminster Road, Warminster Gardens, Avenue Road, Avenue Gardens, Pitville Gardens, Lancaster Road, Lakeside Close, Coleman Close and South Norwood Lakes, it ends on November 22nd.Others are already in place in New Addington, Thornton Heath and Selhurst.

PC Amanda Parrack, of the Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "The behaviour of these groups of youths has been making the lives of the local residents unbearable in some cases and affected their quality of life. These orders will allow us to continue to tackle antisocial behaviour, which has affected this local community."

A police questionnaire was sent out to 150 residents - and more than half said they were scared by the groups and supported bringing in a curfew.(No exact figures provided, but a novel approach , consulting the public directly.)

Cabinet Member for Crime and Public Protection, Cllr Paul Smith said: "We continue to support the police in their efforts to deal with antisocial behaviour through the use of dispersal order powers.”