Police crack down on rowdy teenagers

8:10am Tuesday 30th September 2008

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Police have renewed an order to stamp out yobbish behaviour in an area of Tottenham.

West Green Safer Neighbourhood Team first enforced the antisocial dispersal order on a housing estate in Milton Road, Tottenham, last September.

The move followed complaints from neighbours of young people getting involved in street fights, vandalism and speeding on mopeds.

But despite an improvement, police have said that more work needs to be done and have extended the order for a further six months. It will now expire on March 27, 2009.

Sergeant Mark Pearce, of West Green Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "We have seen an improvement in the area and want this to continue over the next six months. We are committed to making this area a safer place."

The legislation gives police and community support officers discretionary power to ban groups of two or more from the area and return people under 16 years old to their homes.

A breach of the order could result in a prison sentence of three months and a fine of up to £2,500.

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said: "It is unfortunate that a dispersal order is considered necessary but we are determined to ensure residents are allowed to live in peace in their own homes.

"There is a lot of work going on to engage young people in purposeful activities in the area but in the short term this dispersal order is the most appropriate response."