Dispersal order helps drive out area’s antisocial group

The zone means officers can break up groups of people hanging round – even if they are not actively committing crime – and escort home any unaccompanied child under 16 in the area.

Thames Valley Police created the zone in August after residents complained that homeless drinkers gathered nightly on York Place and around The Florey Building, part of Queen’s College.

The force received 275 complaints about drunken behaviour and drug abuse in St Clement’s in the first half of 2014.

Our top stories

But since the zone came in there have been just four incidents in St Clements, none of which were recorded as being alcohol or drug related, and no arrests in connection with these types offences.

Leatrice Beeson, 90, who lives in a flat in Anchor Place, said: “As far as I can tell, it has all stopped.

“There used to be drunks sleeping behind the building, urinating and drinking, disturbing sleep and it was unpleasant, but it’s all stopped.”

Pamela Rogers, who also lived in the building, agreed: “The order is definitely doing the job.

“We had groups of youths around drinking, taking drugs, making a lot of noise early in the morning, but now we see it very rarely. It is amazingly quiet.”

The six-month order, introduced through the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, extends through St Clement’s, and Angel and Greyhound Meadow.

There is another order on Speedwell Street in the city centre for the same time frame. It is the first time Oxford has had two zones running at the same time.

Queen’s College home bursar, Linda Irving-Bell, said: “It’s been a lot better since the order.

“There’s definitely been an improvement, without any doubt. I’ve not heard of any incidents for a while. There’s a river footpath in front of our building and people used to gather there and drink and shout. We used to find drug-related stuff on the floor. If people are using these sorts of things they get rowdy and there were problems.”

George McPhillips, who works at the Old Black Horse pub in St Clements Street, said: “Things have definitely improved. The youngsters have all gone.”

Sgt Neil Applegarth said there had been a “dramatic” drop in calls for action around anti-social behaviour in the St Clement’s area.

He said: “Drunk, loutish behaviour in alleyways has just vanished. Before this we would get numerous calls a day about it, and it’s down to maybe once a week.

“It’s the group element that provides the intimidation. By breaking them up you reduce that.

“That is down to the dispersal order, we’re not aware of anything else that’s changed.”

Once the St Clement’s order runs out in February it will be reviewed.

Sgt Applegarth said: “I don’t know whether it will be continued. Now the problem is gone police may say the need for the power is also gone, which could be fairly onerous.”

How the law supports force

DISPERSAL orders allow police and police community support officers to move on groups of two or more people from areas where anti-social behaviour is a problem
They can also take home under-16s found hanging round in a dispersal zone, between 9pm and 6am, who are not accompanied by a responsible adult
If people do not comply, they could be fined up to £2,500 or jailed for three months
These orders come from sections 30-36 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (ASBA), but new powers introduced this year mean police can also order anyone who does not live in the area to leave and not return for 24 hours. 
As well as in St Clement’s, there is a six-month dispersal order in the Speedwell Street area, which was first implemented in January and renewed in August
That order covers Speedwell Street, Luther Street, Butterwyck Place, and Cromwell Road.

• Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.