Top cop's Dispersal notice admission

Tottenham Wood Green, & Edmonton Journal 24 02 June 2005
Haringay residents saypolice officers do not fully understand the powers of the Dispersal Order imposed on the area around Effingham Road.

Haringey Community and Police Consultative Group met members of the Ladder Community Safety Partnership who questioned what police were doing to enforce the order. They also raised the problem of lengthy and non-existent police response times.

Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Stephen Bloomfield said: "I'm not going to dispute what you say that some officers do not know the full powers of dispersal notices." ….“dispersal orders are not a quick fix and often took time to have the desired effect.”

Chief Superintendent Bloomfield said he was aware of calls coming in which police have not responded to and said due to call prioritisation there were simply not enough officers.

The dispersal zone - which covers Effingham, Fairfax and Falkland Roads - was enforced earlier this year to clamp down on young tearaways who, according to residents, make life in the area a nightmare.

Chief Superintendent Bloomfield did not explain why the Orders were made if he had insufficient staff to enforce them.