17/08/11 - Dispersal order in Wheatley continues to be a success
A section 30 dispersal order, which was granted for six months in Wheatley at the beginning of June, has again proved its worth during the first few weeks of the summer holidays. Incidents of anti-social behaviour were down by 40% in July.
South Yorkshire Police and Doncaster Council applied for the order, which enables the police to disperse from the area groups of two or more people causing a nuisance, after residents raised a number of concerns about antisocial behaviour, including the use of abusive and foul language, criminal damage, littering and intimidating behaviour.
Activities have also been organised for young people to give them something positive to do with their evenings. The Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) is hosting multi sports activities for youngsters. Local youth clubs have extended opening hours and there have been a number of drop-in sessions organised at the Wheatley Youth Club and the Kingfisher Youth Club.
The Wheatley centre is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights and is open to young people aged between 11 and 19. The Kingfisher youth club runs every Wednesday and caters for young people aged 8 - 12. Since the dispersal order was put in place, more than 50 young people have attended the youth clubs on a weekly basis.
There is also an under-age club night planned for 11 - 16 year olds from across Doncaster at the Trinity nightclub on 25th August. The beach party night starts at 7pm and doors close at 10pm.
Peter Davies, Mayor of Doncaster, said: "Cutting anti-social behaviour is a priority for us and it’s encouraging to hear that incident numbers are still falling. Residents are telling us that this order is making a difference and we’ll continue to look at what else we can do to ensure people feel safe where they live."
Police Sergeant John Hunter for the Wheatley Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) said: "It is really pleasing to see the dispersal order making such a difference in the area. We have seen a decrease in the number of groups of young people hanging around and residents have told me they feel safer. The SNT will continue to patrol the area and enforce the order if necessary."
Councillor Eva Hughes, Ward Member for Wheatley, said: "We've worked closely with Wheatley residents to get this order put in place and it's really pleasing to see the positive effect it's having."
For media enquiries contact Chris Dawson, Communications Officer, on 01302 736697
That's the ticket, Peter! Of course, this needs a combined approach - 'tough on crime, tough on the ...' Wait a minute! But, by the sound of things, Peter Davies has actually put this into effect in terms of this particular issue in Doncaster. However, we do seem to be faced with much nastier problems in London, with the gang/drugs culture being a very serious threat. A contribution to this fight which has not received too much attention is the need to really hit high profile 'celebrities' who are involved with substance misuse hard. A rich 'celeb' can always buy themselves out of drugs trouble (cf 'The Priory'), and does not have to live in the areas which are dreadfully blighted by drugs gangs, but for anyone else, drugs (and drink) misuse is nothing but a disaster. Criminalise and punish the 'celebs' who set fashions in this matter. And here the press has a responsibility, with its obsession with celebrity culture (a misnomer if there ever was one). Time for a better England.
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