Cllr Marisha Ray joined Sergeant Brian Rushton on a special foot patrol of the Tufnell Park area this weekend. Together they put up notices telling local people that some of the area will be subject to a Dispersal Order from today (Monday 21 August, 2006).
Set up jointly by Islington Council and the police, the month long Dispersal Order will help police tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in the roads it covers. Under the Order, the police have the power to 'move on' people whose behaviour concerns them. Anyone refusing to quit the area after being ordered to go, can be arrested and face imprisonment for up to three months, as well as be fined up to £2,500. If any under 16s are asked to leave the area they will be escorted home if they refuse to leave.
The council and the police have taken this action in response to local residents' concerns about street robberies, damage to their properties and dogs fighting.
Cllr Marisha Ray, Executive Member for Community Safety, said: "Both the council and the police feel that people in the roads covered by the zone have put up with enough intimidation, crime and anti-social behaviour. I know this area and have spoken to residents who live with this every day, it's not acceptable, and we had to do something to help them.
"The zone's existence will send out a strong message that we will not tolerate crime. We want the police to be able to exercise their full powers to tackle the persistent problems in this area and most importantly make residents feel safe."
The Dispersal Order includes Tufnell Park Road from the Carleton Road junction to Holbrooke Court, and Carleton Road from its junction with Tufnell Park Road to the junction with St George's Avenue and Crayford Road. It will be subject to a review at the end of the month to ensure that it is working successfully and not pushing problems elsewhere.
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Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008