Success in bid to halt yobs (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Success in bid to halt yobs

POLICE say a dispersal order used to break up gangs of yobs in Pinehurst has been a success.

But with the order coming to an end today officers are looking at alternative methods of curbing anti-social behaviour.

WPC Victoria Floyd, the community beat officer for Pinehurst and Gorse Hill, said: "Between now and October 1 we will be trying to put together a number of projects to alleviate anti-social behaviour at the Pinehurst Circle.

"The dispersal order has had an impact but before we renew it there are other alternatives we need to consider."

The new crime tackling tools to be used include setting up a Neighbour-hood Watch group, organising a youth club and increasing police patrols.

The dispersal order was first introduced in 2004 to the area around the shops at the Circle in Pinehurst.

The order expired at Christmas but when problems persisted it was reinstated.

In July, data from the British Crime Survey showed a 60 per cent drop in incidents in Pinehurst as a result of the dispersal order. And while WPC Floyd is not ruling out renewing the order she sees it as more of a quick fix than a long-term solution to the area's ills.

"I'm not saying there will never be another dispersal order," she said. "There will be if it's necessary.

"What we are saying is we are trying to find a long term solution before we consider the renewal."

Coun Maurice Fanning (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) is backing the police.

He said: "The dispersal order has been successful but people in the area are concerned once it's off the problems will reappear.

"I think if the police are happy with the situation and are willing to accept they may need to have a greater presence then fine because we can always reinstate it at any time."