The police and Camden Council have brought in a dispersal zone in South Kings Cross. The zone came into force on 25 October 2013 and runs until 26 January 2014 – Bob has sent in a picture of the notice (left) and my computer has recognised some of it below. I wonder how much of Kings Cross is now covered by such legislation – does anyone have a map of the totality?
>>ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ACT 2003
PART 4
Notice for the Dispersal of Groups and Removal of Persons Under the Age of 16 to their Home Address
The local Police and the Local Authority have both agreed that there are grounds to believe that members of the public have been intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed as a result of the presence or behaviour of two or more persons and that anti-social behaviour is a significant and persistent problem in the below affected area.
this makes the hotels around argyle square happy and pushes ASB guess into whose arms? You guessed it, into ordinary residential areas next door. Dispersal is hardly a solution to what seems to be an issue of alcoholism and rough sleeping by adult homeless people or people accomodated in local hostels.
Dispersal orders like this are used fairly sparingly in London Boroughs. They are usually only for a limited period, in the current case for 3 months. There are presently no other dispersal zones around Kings Cross (in either Borough). The only dispersal zone currently in force in Islington is around Finsbury Park where an endemic gang and drugs problem is being tackled. One aspect of the 2003 Act is the requirement that such orders must to provide temporary relief whilst more permanent solutions are prepared. I would recommend that anyone worried about displacement (which is a valid concern) or other adverse impacts should attend the local Safer Neigbourhood Panel or discuss with local Councillors, not least because these orders are only made with the agreement of the local authority.