TACT NEEDED OVER DISPERSAL ZONE SAYS ELIZA MANN (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

Southwark Liberal Democrats <info@southwark-libdems.org.uk>

TACT NEEDED OVER DISPERSAL ZONE SAYS ELIZA MANN

June 28, 2007 12:00 AM

Riverside ward Liberal Democrat Cllr Eliza Mann has welcomed the decision by Southwark Council to introduce a dispersal zone in the area of the Four Squares Estate in Riverside ward but called on the Police to enforce its provisions with tact and diplomacy.

Speaking in a debate on the dispersal zone at last night's Council Assembly, Cllr Eliza Mann said:

"I welcome the decision to seek a dispersal zone for this area. Local people have been plagued by anti-social behaviour by small groups of young people for many years now and, despite all of our efforts, the problems persist."

"This action now is a tribute to the work first started by my late ward colleague Stephen Flannery who, both as a Riverside councillor and as Executive Member for Housing, did so much to try to help local residents alongside myself and Nick Stanton, Leader of the Council."

"But I ask the Police to enforce the zone with tact and diplomacy. They will have very sweeping powers which include the ability to ban a person from the area for 24 hours and to forcibly escort young people home if they are out after 9pm."

"I am concerned that, during the summer holidays and light evenings, many young people will be out and about after 9pm and causing no harm to anyone. I don't believe that they should be banned from the Four Squares area just for being young. I would ask the Police to make sure they only take action against those causing a nuisance."

"The Council has been working with local people for a number of years to put in place measures to cut crime and anti-social behaviours. I welcome the money being put into new lighting, door entry systems and CCTV and the massive investment in the Salmon Youth Centre. I believe that this shows the Council's commitment to cutting crime and anti-social behaviour in the area."