Date:

04/10/05

Camden Council has agreed to extend police powers to curb crime and anti-social behaviour in the Camden Town area, North London, for a further two months from 12 October.

A dispersal zone has been running in the area since June this year (2005) to tackle problems with drugs, alcohol-related violent crime and disorderly behaviour.  Both the council and police agreed to implement the powers in Camden Town after a successful scheme last summer saw a drop in crime. The powers of dispersal will now continue until 12 December.

As in the previous four months of the scheme, police action will run alongside drug and alcohol treatment provision and youth activities. The combination of both preventative projects and tough enforcement action aims to tackle the root causes of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. Environmental work - such as 500 new bright white streetlights and the re-design of areas that attract drugs and anti-social behaviour - will also help to deter crime and provide a safer feeling environment.

The extra powers under the 'dispersal notice' allow police to ban intimidating groups of people causing anti-social behaviour from designated areas for up to 24 hours to prevent trouble escalating and to protect residents. Those who are banned will not be arrested unless they refuse to leave, or breach the dispersal zone.

Following current Metropolitan Police policy, officers will no longer enforce the part of the legislation that allows them to take under 16 year olds home to their parents if found within the area between 9pm and 6am unsupervised. However, under 16 year olds that engage in anti-social acts can still be dispersed. 

Cllr Anna Stewart, Executive Member for Community Safety, Camden Council said:

"Camden Town is an extremely popular place - thanks to its market and nightlife. But with popularity come the problems of alcohol-related violence and drugs that have a profound effect on residents. We've agreed to extend the dispersal zone as a short-term measure while we look at the long-term challenges for the area. There's a lot that every member of the community can do to help us do this. I urge anyone with concerns to contact the community safety team on 020 7974 2915 to find out more."

Superintendent Martin Richards from Camden Police added:

"Camden Police are working relentlessly in partnership with Camden Council in order to reduce crime and disorder within Camden Town. Due to the London attacks in July, we were unable to fully include all the resources planned during the original Dispersal Notice period. Despite this, from the resources implemented, crime in the area has been reduced. We want to continue and build on tackling the issue of drugs and violent crime and the extension will enable us to combat these in the coming months. Together with Camden Council, using many other initiatives, the extended use of this dispersal power will help by giving local officers the ability to move on or ban anti-social groups from the area, thereby improving the quality of life for the law abiding majority." 

Notes to editors:

• The boundaries of the dispersal zone in which the police powers can be used are: Oakley Sq-> Crowndale Rd-> St. Pancras Way-> Stratford Villas-> Murray Street -> Camden Road-> Rochester Road-> Kentish Town Rd -> Prince of Wales Rd -> Haverstock Hill-> Steeles Rd-> Primrose Hill-> Regents Park Rd -> Gloucester Ave -> Delancey St-> Mornington Terrace-> Mornington Crescent-> Harrington Sq-> Oakley Sq.
• Powers to disperse intimidating groups come under sections 30-36 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.
• Camden Council has evaluated the effectiveness of the use of dispersal notices last summer. A copy of the evaluation can be found at www.camden.gov.uk
• Below is some advice for members of the public on how they can make a difference to making Camden Town a safer place. Police operations are carried out constantly, many of which are undercover. For this reason police might not appear to respond directly to reports of drug dealing and drug use. Camden Council and the police understand this can be frustrating for residents but ultimately want to get the best results - which often means gathering a dossier of evidence to get a stronger conviction.

How you can make a difference:

• If you see a drug deal happening, don't intervene.  Try to remember the details and report them to the police or a street warden. If violence is being used call 999.
• If you are offered drugs directly keep your own safety in mind and walk past. Try to remember the details and report them to the police or a street warden.

Contact numbers:

Camden Town Sector Inspector John Daly: 020 8733 6090
Camden Town Street Wardens: 020 7974 5195

• If you see a needle, call the council's Drug Action Response Team (DART) on 0800 032 3278. Do not move the needle yourself.
• Give money to charities rather than to those begging on the street - evidence shows 86 per cent beg for money for drugs and alcohol. To find out more visit www.killingwithkindness.com
• If you are worried about the welfare of drug users and rough sleepers call the Street Services Team on 020 7833 7970. They work on the front line providing help directly to people on the streets 24 hours a day.
• If you want to get more involved in making a difference in Camden Town, or a full list of contact numbers, call the community safety team on 020 7974 2915.

Below are some examples of work already taking place in Camden Town to make the area safer:

• Police operations against drug dealers carried out every day in the borough - resulting in almost 200 'Class A' drug dealers charged over the last year.
• Crack houses can now be closed almost immediately, which means there are significantly fewer crack houses in Camden than in the past.
• Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) ban perpetrators from unacceptable behaviour anywhere in England and Wales - members of the public can play an important role in giving evidence, even anonymously.  Just under 50 ASBOs have been granted against perpetrators in Camden Town.
• A group of professionals working to address drugs problems meet regularly to keep an eye on people on the streets to make sure they are offered help to change their behaviour and warned they'll face enforcement if they don't. 
• Environmental improvements, including better lighting and re-design of areas to deter crime. Five hundred new 'white light' streetlights are about to be installed in Camden Town, with more planned for other areas of the borough. Residents are helping re-design areas such as St Martin's Gardens that have historically attracted drugs and crime through a £3 million investment for Camden Town from the government's Liveability Fund.
• Twelve Street Wardens provide re-assurance patrols in Camden Town.  They have helped gather evidence for ASBOs and set up football clubs for local young people to give them a better alternative to hanging around on the street.
• 24 hour CCTV cameras focused on the town centre and a roving CCTV van to help deter crime and gather evidence.

Last updated: 23 November 2006