Gangs out (From Oxford Mail)

Gangs out

8:55am Friday 21st July 2006 in

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The vandalism and antisocial behaviour that has plagued an Oxford estate could soon be at an end as police take advantage of new powers to stop gangs gathering.

Rose Hill - and Iffley Lock - will be the first areas in Oxford subject to a dispersal order, allowing officers to break up any group of two or more people considered to pose a threat.

The order, which comes into effect on Monday, July 31, will apply between midday and 6am each day and will be reviewed in six months.

Groups seen in designated zones, and considered a threat, will be asked to disperse and each person's details logged. If they return within 24 hours, either in the original group or a different one, they will be liable for arrest.

Anyone who is frequently dispersed but returns more than 24 hours later will receive a written warning, followed by an antisocial behaviour contract and finally, an antisocial behaviour order.

Gangs of youths are thought to be responsible for most of the vandalism and intimidation in Rose Hill.

More recently, the trouble has spread to nearby Iffley Lock, where there have been reports of gangs terrorising people.

Between January 1 and June 30 last year, police received 46 calls from residents reporting problems with gangs in the two areas. In the same period this year, it had increased to 97.

Similar dispersal areas in Abingdon and Bicester have been hailed a success.

Thames Valley Police area beat officer Pc Ben Henley, who is leading the initiative, said: "Each area has different problems and it seems to be that Rose Hill is suffering from groups of youths being abusive and intimidating members of the public.

"Businesses are being threatened and people are scared to come out, both in the day and night time.

"You may have 20 or 30 youths congregating and they may not be committing actual acts of crime, but they are still causing a real problem to residents of the estate.

"A dispersal order is the ideal response to the situation and fits in perfectly with this type of problem."

Residents were consulted and questionnaires sent out, with 95 per cent of the 47 who took part in favour of the order. The five per cent who were not were all under-16s.

Pc Henley said the aim was not to stop youths gathering, but to move them away from residential areas. The recreation ground is not included in the dispersal zone and police hope groups may move there instead.

The local Neighbourhood Action Group - made up of police, councillors and other agencies - will also be working to improve youth facilities on the estate.

The order will last for six months, after which it can be renewed, following review and any changes to the boundaries or times can be made then.

South East area inspector Phil Standish said: "We would encourage the residents of Rose Hill to let us know their perception of how the dispersal order is working. If the youths are going to another area, we need to know so we can adopt new criteria accordingly. It is the quality of life for Rose Hill residents that is being compromised by these youths, so we need to be made aware of the thoughts and perceptions of residents."