New Dispersal Zones to Tackle Youth Disorder
Two new 'dispersal zones' have been authorised by the police and Bexley Council
to tackle ongoing problems of youth disorder in Northumberland Heath and on
the Frobisher Road Estate, Slade Green.
The powers came into force on 1 May at Northumberland Heath and 14 May at
Frobisher Road and will apply for a period of six months.
The main roads included within the Northumberland Heath dispersal zone are
Bexley Road, Hengist Road, Horsa Road, Hurst Road, Mill Road and Northumberland
Park. The main roads within the Frobisher Road Estate zone include Columbus
Square, Cook Square, Cornwallis Close, Frobisher Road, Hamilton Walk, Manor
Road and Raleigh Close.
It was decided to put the zones in place after evidence indicated that some
of the problems residents and local people have been experiencing are persistent
and have involved intimidation.
Superintendent Martin Bagg of Bexley Police commented: "The local Safer
Neighbourhoods Teams are working hard to tackle the problems that are being
experienced, but the powers that are available to them with the dispersal zone
will give them a further tool to deal robustly with incidents of youth disorder."
"The action we've taken demonstrates once again that the police, the
Council and the Community Safety
Partnership work closely together and that
we are determined to take firm action to address anti-social behaviour when
it becomes a concern for local people and traders," added Cllr
Katie Perrior,
Bexley Council's Cabinet Member for Community Affairs.
Dispersal zones are part of a wider strategy to tackle anti-social behaviour,
which has the support of all the organisations involved in the Bexley Community
Safety Partnership.
