Dispersal Order In Place For Barton
Written by Shaun Moore on June 23, 2010
Barton Street Safer Community Team (SCT) has introduced a dispersal order to tackle anti-social behaviour. 
The order, which will run for the next six months, began on Monday, June 21 with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour, which is a policing priority for the SCT, particularly in the Laurels and Napier Street.
The Barton area, The Laurels and Parryfield all fall within the designated area.
The order allows police or Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to direct any groups of two or more to leave the area for 24 hours when they believe the behaviour of the group is likely to result in members of the public being harassed, alarmed or distressed.
Anyone who remains in the area or returns after being told to leave could find themselves in a police cell and facing a fine of up to £5,000 or up to three months imprisonment.
The order also prevents anyone under the age of 16 from being within the boundary covered by the dispersal order between 9pm and 6am unless with a parent or responsible person over the age of 18. Anyone under 16 found in the area may be taken home or to an alternative place of safety.
Police Sergeant Lynn Northfield, of Barton SCT, said: “We have been striving to get this in place for a long time and are really happy with the area it covers.
“Dispersal orders like the one in the city centre have proved very effective in dealing with anti-social behaviour and we expect this one to aid us tackle the problem here.
“We will still be doing high-visibility patrols, making use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders where appropriate and working with our partner agencies to come up with educational solutions, but this is another considerable tool in our armoury.
“I hope it will also make local residents feel confident we are tackling those issues they have asked to.”
The order has been printed and placed in prominent places in Barton and the other named areas and includes a map with the dispersal order area marked in red.
Anyone who witnesses any anti-social behaviour in the Barton area should contact Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090 1234.
