14 February 2008
Gwent Police have stopped 227 cars and dispersed 583 individuals from Blackwood and Pontllanfraith, during the first three months of a Dispersal Notice.
The Dispersal Notice was introduced to help combat anti-social behaviour and enable officers to disperse groups of vehicles and people, who were gathering in the area.
Caerphilly County Borough Council granted a police request to introduce the order in October 2007. This enables Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers to:
- Instruct people in a group to leave an area
- Instruct people who do not live in an area to leave
- Instruct people who do not live in an area to leave and not return within a specified time not exceeding 24hrs
To remain or return to this area having been told to leave is an offence punishable by up to three months imprisonment and / or a fine not exceeding £2500.
Three arrests have been made during this time, with the individuals receiving police cautions.
Sergeant Ian Muirhead, said: "There has been a dramatic reduction in the number of complaints we are receiving about anti-social behaviour in Blackwood and Pontllanfraith. We have issued a substantial number of Dispersal Notices and are seeing less vehicles gathering in large groups in the area, which is hopefully improving the quality of life for local residents. We are continuing to impose the order and will take any necessary action if individuals fail to comply with the Dispersal Notice."
Caerphilly County Borough Councils cabinet member for the environment, Cllr David Poole agrees, adding, "Since the introduction of the dispersal notice, there has indeed been a significant decrease in the number of complaints received – this is multi-agency partnership working at its best as it clearly shows that such nuisance behaviour will not be tolerated on our streets. All possible steps are being taken to ensure that local residents in these and other areas feel safe going about their day to day lives."
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