Police granted dispersal order for Barne Barton

Barne Barton is to get a new dispersal order to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

The order for Barne Barton was requested by Devon and Cornwall Police and will cover the Halloween and Bonfire Night period. The order is the second to be applied in Plymouth in recent days alongside the one issued for the city centre and waterfront area for the same festivities and the run up to Christmas.

The Barne Barton order will be in place around the clock and will last for two months from 25 October until 16 December 2013. The dispersal area covers:

• Starting at the junction of Poole Park Road and Kinterbury Road.
• Travelling south westerly down Kinterbury Road to, and then following the MOD boundary wall passing Furse Park, Talbot Gardens and Savage Road to the junction with Poole Park Road.
• The boundary intersects Poole Park Road and Savage Road and travels north encompassing Mantle Gardens.
• Continuing west along the Old Farm Road estate including Kiln Close.
• Travelling south to the northern edge of Poole Park Road excluding Miers Close and continue along Poole Park Road finally joining with the junction of Kinterbury Road and Foulston Avenue.

Residents in Barne Barton have previously complained about anti-social behaviour with fireworks, criminal damage to property and vehicles and other problems caused by large groups of people hanging around outside their homes. The order will be used as part of a wider package of measures to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the Barne Barton area including co-ordinated youth work. The police will also carry out a range of activities to provide advice and reassurance to residents.

Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Community Development, Chris Penberthy said: “The police have requested these powers to deal with anti-social behavior issues in the neighbourhood. At this time of year with Halloween and Bonfire Night, there can be an increase in such problems so we want to make sure the measures are in place before then. Our teams and partner agencies will also be working with the community to tackle the issues.”

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.

The order is subject to call-in by Scrutiny.