Dispersal order for Plymouth city centre and waterfront festivities
A dispersal order for Plymouth city centre and the waterfront area has been approved this week by Plymouth City Council.
The dispersal order is designed to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour during events including Bonfire Night, the Christmas lights switch-on and festive late night shopping. The dispersal order will include the city centre, the waterfront, Union Street, North Hill and Mutley Plain.
The order was requested by Devon and Cornwall Police and signed this week as a 'delegated decision' by the Leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Tudor Evans.
It will be in place around the clock from 25 October 2013 to 6 January 2014 and will cover the areas within following boundaries:
- incorporating the sea front from Devil’s Point travelling east to Victoria Pier and then turning inland encompassing the Barbican Leisure Park
- following Sutton Road into Exeter Street turning north into Gasking Street before joining the east side of North Hill
- continuing up North Hill and including Mutley Plain and its adjacent streets and service lanes, before returning down the western edge of North Hill. West along Cobourg Street into Saltash Road incorporating Victoria Park, Eldad Hill, Stoke Road
- turning west into High Street and heading south through Stonehouse to Admirals Hard following the shoreline to Devil’s Point completing the boundary.
Note: The boundary is considered 50 metres into the sea itself when shown waterside.
Previous orders for a similar area have been highly effective in helping police disperse potential troublemakers before their anti-social behaviour had a chance to escalate into more serious crimes.
Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Community Development, Chris Penberthy said: “There are lots of events planned for the next few months and we want to make sure everyone can have a fun and safe time during the Bonfire Night and Christmas festivities. The dispersal order powers and other measures in place will help the community and partner agencies prevent crime and anti-social behaviour so the city is a safer place.”
The dispersal order will be used as part of a package of measures already in place to combat crime and anti social behaviour in the areas. They include patrols by specialist police officers trained in public order situations, the use of CCTV cameras to record anti social behaviour, street pastors and multi-agency work including a crime campaign to address alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour.
A dispersal order means that a police officer can instruct people to leave the area if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the presence or behaviour of two or more people in a public place has resulted – or is likely to result – in members of the public being intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed.
