The Little Red Book of London’s Dispersal Zones
Robin Philpott Unit 8 2014-15
Contents
2
Introduction
5
The Act
7
Greater London Map
10
Vauxhall
13
Vassall
17
Elmfield Way
21
Ladbroke Grove
25
Primrose Hill
29
Gladstone Park
33
Poplar
37
Upton Park
41
Ilford
45
Leyton
49
Tottenham
53
Enfield
57
Yeading
65
Mullberry Parade
69
West Drayton
73
Cowley
77
Hounselow East
81
West Molesey
85
Tooting
89
3
Compiling information on dispersal zones.
4
Introduction “There’s no point in acting surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display at your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for 50 of your Earth years, so you’ve had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it’s far too late to start making a fuss about it now.” Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz of the Galactic Hyperspace Planning Council, commenting on the demolition of Earth in Douglas Adam’s Hitchiker’s guide to the Galaxy, although he may as well be speaking about dispersal zones. Whilst the information is available it’s hardly on display, there are no signs in the zones. To obtain the whereabouts and existence of these dispersal zones required a freedom of information request to the metropolitan police service and even then the information was incomplete and required further research. Knowledge is power, it is through understanding the system that it can be improved. This book is not an in-depth study or thesis on dispersal zones; it is a handy pocketbook guide on the existing zones in Greater London, giving the reader the information in a clear and concise manner. This is not a book for anarchists. Its a book for Londoners and those visiting London to be informed about the 21 dispersal zones that currently exist.
5
6
The Act The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced a variety of new powers to local authorities and police forces in England and Wales. Sections 30-36 of the act gave the police powers to set up a dispersal zone. On October 20th 2014 sections 34-42 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 came in to force, replacing the previous act and giving additional dispersal powers. A dispersal order is issued by a police superintendant or higher, with consent of the local authority; on the grounds that members of the public have been intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed in a public area where there has been persistent anti social behaviour. This gives uniformed officers within the zone the power to disperse groups of 2 or more people and escort home any young person under 16 between the hours of 9pm and 6am who is not accompanied by a responsible adult, Until 2014 the power to remove young people was permissive, but after the October amendment is now coercive. A dispersal zone can run for a maximum of 6 months and during this time a constable or Community support officer may direct members of the public to comply with the order. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and punishable by 3 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to ÂŁ2500.
7
A uniformed directions:
officer
may
give
the
following
Tell a group of 2 or more people to disperse immediately or at a specified time and manner. On reasonable grounds to believe they have or could cause anti-social behaviour, resulting in a member of the public being; intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed. Order people who don’t live in the affected area to leave, as with groups this can be an immediate direction or at the officers discretion. Additionally the officer can tell those who don’t live in the zone to not return to the relevant area for a specified period of time, not exceeding 24 hours. If between the hours of 9pm and 6am, an officer finds an individual in a the affected area and there is reasonable grounds for believing that person is under the age of 16 and not accompanied by a responsible adult parent or guardian, they may be escorted to their home address unless the officer believes the youth would suffer significant harm at home. This all seems very reasonable and indeed it is on paper, however in practice it’s not always the case. Dispersal zones have been used to target homeless people; moving on rough sleepers from one area to another isn’t a reduction in crime, it’s simply removing the “undesirables”.
8
The act is a response to a genuine issue and attempts to tackle anti social behaviour. However, it can be used for ulterior motives and the potential exists for unproportional growth. Authorities are becoming less transparent and more powerful, this has resulted in a physical manifestation of restricted liberties in perceived public space. It’s not to say that the establishment is sinister or this is the start of dystopia; legislation is made with the best intentions, yet the lack of clear information available such as signs in the dispersal zones, leads to changes without knowledge or consent. It is by understanding what the implications of these acts are and how written legislation physically manifests that we can change or improve it. These zones at current only cover a small area of the capitol but to ignore them for being insignificant could lead to unregulated expansion without consent or knowledge of this happening.
9
10
11
Vauxhall
12
Vauxhall Authority: London Borough of Lambeth From: 18:00 16th October 2014 To: 17:59 16th April 2014 The Area: Vauxhall is a busy transport hub
sitting on what once was the famous Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, it has a large gay club seen which on weekends as with any such area in London leads to drunken behaviour on the streets.
Reason: The zone was set up due to the selling and use of Nitrous oxide ‘Laughing Gas’ and the disruptive behaviour it was causing. Other: All of Lambeth is an Alcohol free zone
meaning it must be consumed on a premises and not in public space. No signs exist indicating the Dispersal Zone.
13
Va
ux
ha
ll
Br
id
ge
MI6
Vauxhall
14
Vauxhall
Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
The Oval
15
Vassall
16
Vassall Authority: London Borough of Lambeth From: 12:01 3rd October 2014 To: 12:01 3rd April 2014 The Area: This is a quiet residential area not
far from the Oval Cricket ground. It’s a mix of Middle class housing and council estates.
Reason: The zone was set up due to complaints by residents and community groups over anti social behaviour from youths.
Other: All of Lambeth is an Alcohol free zone
meaning it must be consumed on a premises and not in public space. No signs exist indicating the Dispersal Zone.
17
18
Brixton Road
Gosling Way
Vassall
all
Vass
Road
19
Elmfield Way
20
Emfield Way Authority: Kensington and Chelsea From: Active as of November 2014 To: Unknown The Area: Elmfield way is one of two main roads that runs through a housing development.
Reason: The freedom of Information request only included a map without any information.
Other: The only speculation that can be made
is this area is a new development within an existing council estate and there could be an assumption as seen elsewhere that there has been problems with groups of youths loitering.
21
Westway
22
Emfield Way
Harr
ow R oad
ield
Elmf
Way
23
Elmfield Way
24
Ladbroke Grove Authority: Kensington and Chelsea From: Active as of November 2014 To: Unknown The Area: Ladbroke grove passes under the Westway bypass the zone includes the underground station and extends into residential areas, it is a 5 minute walk from Portobello market.
Reason: Whilst dates are unknown an internet search found a news article stating that large groups of up to 20 youths would gather in the area and cause vandalism.
Other: As with Lambeth and most other boroughs, Kensington and Chelsea is a Alcohol free zone.
25
ord
Oxf
s
den
Gar
y
twa
Wes
ke bro Lad ve Gro
26
Ladbroke Grove
l Al
ts in sa
ad Ro
lo
el
ob
rt
Po
ad
Ro
27
Primrose Hill
28
Primrose Hill Authority: London Borough of Camdem From: 22:00 To: 21:59
7th November 2014 11th February 2015
The Area: Primrose Hill is situated in the Northern side of Regents park and overlooks the city, offering picturesque views day and night.
Reason: There have been incidents of criminal damage. But the real issue that isn’t explained by Anti-social behaviour is couples having sex in the park at night.
Other: Regent’s Park is one of London’s Royal Parks and whilst police enforce rules on behalf of her majesty and to keep peace and order, it has its own bylaws and Royal Park wardens.
29
Primrose Hill
30
Primrose Hill
31
Gladstone Park
32
Gladstone Park Authority: London Borough of Brent From: August 2014 To: Unknown The Area: Gladstone Park is in the Northwest
of London, a railway line runs through the park that is only used by freight trains, it is
Reason: The dispersal zone was set up to stop homeless Romanians sleeping in the park after dark.
Other: Considering parks In London are closed
after sunset it seems unlikely sleeping homeless people cause any form of disruption or harm to the public.
33
34
Gladstone Park
35
Poplar
36
Poplar Authority: London Borough of Tower Hamlets From: 12:00 To: 23:59
21st July 2014 2Oth January 2015
The
Area: The area is comprised of under privileged council housing and ageing industry, bordered by the noisy A12. Reason: In 2013 a 16 year old named Ajmol Ali was stabbed to death in the area and fear remained among residents of further possible incidents caused by gangs, as a result a dispersal zone was created.
37
hua
Jos
38
Poplar
Bo
w
Cr
ee
k
eet
Str
A12 Balfron Tower
39
Upton Park
40
Upton Park Authority: London Borough of Newham From: August 2014 To: February 2015 The Area: Upton park is the area surrounding
West Ham United’s Football ground with a station of the same name.
Reason:
“intimidating” groups of youths gathering in the streets at night around West Ham’s Upton Park stadium.
Other: In September 2014 the council issued
statements to newspapers saying the zone “youth removal zone” was a success.
41
eet Str en Gre
42
Upton Park
Boleyn Ground ing
Bark
Road
43
Ilford
44
Ilford
Authority: London Borough of Redbridge From: 1 September 2014 To: 1 March 2015 The Area: The zone includes the pedestrianised town centre and Ilford railway station. This is the node for shopping and weekend drinkers. The Ilford Shopping centre that sits on the site has become a ghost mall with just a few shops remaining open, this is most likely due to competition from Westfield in Stratford. Reason: Crime levels haven’t risen within the zone or surrounding area. Instead the perception of crime has, complaints to councillors from locals led to the creation of a new zone.
Other: A previous zone existed during 2013 due to prostitution in Ilford Town centre.
45
46
Ilford
47
Leyton
48
Leyton
Authority: London Borough of Waltham Forest From: 15 October 2014 To: 15 April 2015 The Area: The zone is focused around Abbott’s park a local playing field with sporting facilities, it includes the high street towards Leyton Midland Road station.
Reason: Groups of youths have been loitering
around the high street and in the park on evenings causing a disturbance.
Other: There was an issue with beggars outside
this and other stations in Leyton that have led to dispersal zones.
49
50
Leyton
51
Tottenham
52
Tottenham Authority: London Borough of Haringey From: September 2014 To: March 2015 The Area: Currently the Largest zone in all over Greater London, covering an area of just under 1 square mile, this includes White heart Lane and a large industrial estate.
Reason: Like with most zones the reasons are vague and simply state Anti social behaviour was present and constant prior to the creation of the zone.
Other: This part of North London is very bleak, industrial and polluted, with lots of low income housing and a crap football club.
53
54
Tottenham
55
Enfield
56
Enfield
Authority: London Borough of Enfield From: 26 June 2014 To: Extended indefinitely The Area: Enfield is one of the outer London
boroughs and much like Croydon doesn’t feel like London. The dispersal zone engulfs the town centre.
Reason: This zone was set up to create a youth curfew.
Other: Enfields dispersal zone is interesting
in that it has been renewed every 6 months with a new zone being set up following the same boundaries.
57
58
Enfield
59
Yeading
60
Yeading
Authority:
London Borough of Hillingdon
From: No date specified To: No date specified The Area: Yeading is a very quiet part of
outer London. Many Londoners don’t consider it to be truly London. The zone covers the town centre. The dispersal area is mainly suburban with a large retail outlet included.
Reason: This zone was set up due to drug usage in public. This led to bad behaviour by addicts, loitering, dealing and trouble for local residents.
61
62
Yeading
63
Mullberry Parade
64
Mullberry Parade
Authority:
London Borough of Hillingdon
From: No date specified To: No date specified The Area: A rather rough council estate with ageing and ugly 1950/60’s flats.
Reason: The zone was set in place due to vandalism on shop fronts and private property by gangs of youths. Other: Such areas face problems in crime due to the lack of activity. It’s not a case of the bad lower classes but the bored lower classes. This needs to change.
65
66
Mullberry Parade
67
West Drayton
68
West Drayton
Authority:
London Borough of Hillingdon
From: No date specified To: No date specified The
Area: Yet another dispersal zone in Hillingdon, it appears this cluster of zones is due to the local authorities approach to tackle crime. Reason: The only thing known about this zone is that it exists because of Anti-social behaviour little else could be found out.
69
70
West Drayton
71
Cowley
72
Cowley
Authority:
London Borough of Hillingdon
From: 16th June 2014 To: 16th December 2014 The Area: An industrial/office estate a stones throw from the M25. Reason: Hillingdon seem to have very little
information on their active dispersal zones, nothing is known about this zone except the standard reason of anti-social behaviour.
73
74
Cowley
75
Hounslow East
76
Hounslow East
Authority:
London Borough of Hounslow
From: No start date specified To: No end date specified The Area: The dispersal zone runs around the tube station.
Reason: Begging had become a nuisance to locals and complaints led to the council setting us this zone.
77
78
Hounslow East
Hounslow East
79
West Molesey
80
West Molesey
Authority: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
From: No start date specified To: No end date specified The Area: The area is part of large urban expanse. The wider area is in parts village like with affluent housing.
Reason: Groups of people had been harassing others. Little else is known.
81
82
West Molesey
83
Tooting
84
Tooting
Authority: London Borough of Wandsworth From: 9th August 2014 To: 8th February 2015 The Area: The zone includes Figge’s marsh a the local green for dog walkers, Sunday league football. The surrounding streets are mainly suburban. The overground runs through the zone to the North.
Reason: Merton Police say they introduced the dispersal zone in response to local residents’ complaints of persistent anti-social behaviour in their area.
85
86
Tooting
Figge’s Marsh
87