Police: No plans to renew the order but area will be monitored
The Uxbridge Road "dispersal zone" order, which has given local police the power to ask groups of people to move on, will expire at the end of the month and will not be extended, local police say.
"The dispersal order it will continue until 31st of January and then it will end. There are currently no plans to continue it or renew it in the near future. The area has been relatively quiet lately and as such it could be difficult to justify an extension. The area will be monitored and if problems increase then the dispersal order will be brought back in," police told ShepherdsBushW12.com.
Under the dispersal zone order, which came into effect last August, local police have been able to ask groups to move on, in a bit to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.
Following an agreement between the police and the council, uniformed police and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are currently able to disperse groups within the specified zone under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.
The zone runs from the junction of Uxbridge Road and Wood Lane to the junction of Uxbridge Road and Askew Road and includes 100 metres of all the side streets on both the southern and northern sides of Uxbridge Road.
Under the Act, police have been able to tell people who do not live in the zoned area to leave it and not to return for up to 24 hours.
Teenagers who are asked to move on may face being escorted home by police: “If you are under 16, you may not be allowed to be here between 9pm and 6am unless you are under the effective control of a parent or responsible person over the age of 18. You may be removed to your home or place of safety if more appropriate,” a police notice states.
“To contravene a direction is an offence, punishable by 3 months’ imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding £2,500,” it warns.
Police say the dispersal zone was introduced after several residents in the area complained of groups drinking in the streets and acting in a way "that could be considered anti-social”.
The dispersal zone came into force at 00:01hrs on Thursday 7th August 2008 and will be in effect until 23:59hrs on Saturday 31st January 2009.
22 January 2009