Youngsters give show of defiance (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Youngsters give show of defiance

Young people outside the Wyvern Theatre yesterday Ref: 99342-39YOUNGSTERS gave an open show of defiance by gathering outside the Wyvern Theatre on the day a dispersal order came into force.

The order means groups of two or more teenagers, who police deem are likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress to others, can be moved on or face being arrested.

But more than 30 youngsters were gathered in groups outside the theatre yesterday afternoon.

And they insisted they were doing nothing wrong.

"I think it is stupid," said a 16-year-old girl, who would only give her nickname Shed.

"We are not causing any harm, we are not in anybody's way."

A 21-year-old, known as Rage, said it was just a place for people to meet.

"We shouldn't be kicked off this area," she said.

"Most of the people are skaters or bikers so isn't it better that we are up here rather than being in town in people's way?

"Most of us don't do anything wrong. Why should some of us who are just talking to people be persecuted?

"It is just a meeting place."

The youngsters said a few people had said they were not going to go the area yesterday but that others said they would go to see if they were arrested.

They said they had not seen any police around the area but that if asked to move on not all of them would.

One girl said people would move but go back to the area as soon as the police had gone.

No one from Swindon Police was available to comment on the first day of the order being in place.

But the force has previously said it has to tackle anti-social behaviour and take into account the needs of everyone who works in or uses the area.

The order, which was originally delayed because of a spelling error, runs until March 16 next year.

It was put in place following a number of complaints from traders in the area who said customers were being scared off by the big gangs.

It means if a member of the public is harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed by a group of two or more people then the group can be removed from the area by a police officer.

It is an offence to fail to comply with the order and an arrest can be made without a warrant.

The areas affected include Theatre Square, The Cenotaph, both Wyvern car parks, both pedestrian walkways and stairways and the pedestrian access routes to all of these areas.

Isabel Field