Dispersal zone crackdown on troublemakers within a square mile of Finsbury Park

Published: 24th December, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

YOUTHS who cause trouble within a square mile of Finsbury Park will be moved on by police or arrested under dispersal orders announced this week. 

The operation is being launched to tackle drug-related crime and intimidation of residents by large groups of young people in Wray Crescent Park, Six Acres and Andover estates.

The dispersal zone between Stroud Green and Hornsey Road is being introduced by Tollington and Finsbury Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) over five months.

It will give police the power to move on groups of two or more youths likely to become involved in crime or anti-social behaviour. Those who fail to comply with a police request to move will be arrested.

The order, which began this week, will continue until May 19. 

Police and community safety officers will increase their visibility in the area in the evenings. 

Sergeant Chris Walsh, from Finsbury SNT, said: “We will be working with Islington Council and residents to ensure that permanent solutions are in place to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the area by the time the order comes to an end.”

Community safety chief Labour councillor Barbara Sidnell said: “We don’t do this without good reason. Residents told us they had a problem with groups of younger people.

“Groups of youths intent on causing trouble will now be broken up by the police, who have our full support. We’ll review this to see if we need to extend the dispersal zone if the problem behaviour doesn’t stop.”