Slough Town Centre dispersal order signed
Slough Borough Council, in partnership with Thames Valley Police, has introduced a dispersal order in the town centre to tackle antisocial behaviour.
It was signed in response to antisocial behaviour caused by groups congregating in Slough centre and in particular, Brunel underpass.
The dispersal came into force at 7am on Sunday April 1 and will continue throughout the summer months until midnight on September 1.
The order covers the Slough High Street, Queensmere shopping centre, Brunel Way, the A4, from the railway bridge on Bath Road to the junction with Aldin Avenue North, Wexham Street between the junctions with Wellington Street and High Street, Windsor Road from the junction with the High Street to Brunel roundabout and William Street from Brunel roundabout to the bridge over the railway line.
Under the terms of the order, police officers and police community support officers have the power to tell people in groups of two or more to disperse and tell people who don’t live in the area to leave and not to return for up to 24 hours.
In addition, between 9pm and 6am, officers may remove anyone under the age of 16 to their home or place of safety if they are not under the effective control of a parent or responsible person over the age of 18.
Anne Farmer, community safety project officer for Slough Borough Council, said: “The dispersal order is one of a number of tools being used by the council and the police to try and ensure shoppers, residents and workers in the town centre can come into Slough without being intimidated by large groups of people who may be congregating.
“It should help people to feel safer and more relaxed while in the town.”
Inspector Ken Paterson, Neighbourhood Inspector for South Slough, which includes the town centre, thinks the dispersal order will be an effective way for officers to address some of the issues that are occurring: “The powers available to us under the dispersal order will be used with discretion by my officers to disperse groups intent on causing harassment and intimidation to the public in Slough town centre.”
Thames Valley Police ~ Slough