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Gipton: Police obtain dispersal order
Police have secured a dispersal order to combat anti-social behaviour and youth disorder in Gipton and the surrounding area.
The order starts on Friday, October 23 and will run until the January 16, 2010, when it will be reviewed by police and council officials.
Under the dispersal order, police officers and Police Community Support Officers have powers to order people out of a designated area, if they believe they could go on to commit acts of anti-social behaviour.
Anyone ordered out of the area is banned from returning for a period of 24 hours.
People refusing to leave the area or not following the rules of the dispersal order will be arrested with a maximum penalty of three months' imprisonment and/or a fine of 5,000.
Also forming part of the new measures, young people aged under 16 are prohibited from public spaces within the dispersal order zone from 9pm through to 6am, unless they are accompanied by a parent or a responsible adult over 18 years of age.
The dispersal order will cover areas and estates including Gipton Approach, Wykebeck Valley Road, Oakwood Lane, Easterly Road, Ryan Place, Hovingham Avenue from the junction with Ryan Place, St Wilfrid's Avenue/Drive and Circus, Foundry Drive/Avenue and Approach, Harehills Park Terrace, Coldcotes Avenue, the boundary between Harehills Park and the cemetery and the boundary of the cemetery which borders the St Albans, the Bullers and the Kitcheners (Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Ward).
Inspector Nik Adams, who leads the Gipton and Harehills Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We have successfully applied for a dispersal order to increase our ability to combat the nuisance type of behaviour that can often lead to more serious anti-social behaviour.
"We are aware of recent incidents in and around the St Wilfrid's area and this type of legislation allows us to actively target and remove potential troublemakers from the area quickly and effectively.
"This preventative measure allows us to stop anti-social behaviour before it starts.
"Members of the public, local businesses and visitors to the area have the right to enjoy this part of Leeds without being unduly affected or intimidated by groups of young people. The dispersal order gives us additional powers to prevent this from happening.
"Forming part of a range of measures to make the dispersal order as successful as possible, we are working alongside the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and East North East Homes to put in place a range of measures against those whose behaviour adversely affects the lives of those living in Gipton. This can include limitations placed on troublemakers movements through an anti-social behaviour order or tenancy action, including the possibility of eviction, from those living in housing association properties.
"We are also aware of the need for young people in particular to have something to do within the local area as we are only looking to target those causing trouble and not those simply looking for something to fill their time.
"Alongside the Youth Services Department of Leeds City Council we are working to provide local youngsters with free access to a range of facilities at the Fearnville Sports Centre and the nearby Henry Barran Centre.
"This is the third dispersal order we have successfully applied for and on each previous occasion we have been able to significantly reduce anti-social behaviour and I remain confident that we will be able to build on that success this time around."
Raising awareness of the new measures, posters will be on display in local shops, businesses and on street furniture within the areas affected by the dispersal order.
Additional funding for the dispersal order has been secured from local councillors and East North East Homes.
Members of the public requiring further information on the dispersal order can contact the Gipton and Harehills Neighbourhood Policing Team on: 0113 2413270 or via: 0845 60 60 606.
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Saturday 19 May 2012
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