EXETER: SIX-MONTH EXTENSION AND ENLARGEMENT FOR ANTI-YOB ZONE

SIX-MONTH EXTENSION AND ENLARGEMENT FOR ANTI-YOB ZONE

Exeter police have increased their powers to move on yobs in a residential area.

The Section 30 dispersal order in St Thomas has been renewed until March next year and the area it covers has been extended.

It now covers the Piazza Terracina on the Quay, Water Lane, Willeys Avenue and takes in Megabowl and the children's play area in Haven Road.

The ward was first placed under a dispersal order, which gives police the power to disperse groups of two or more who are causing a disturbance, in March this year.

This followed a 25 per cent increase in disorder in the area over the Christmas period.

That first order ran out in September but the city council's chief executive, Philip Bostock, agreed to have it extended.

Sgt Morris Elphick, responsible for policing the west of the city, said: "We will be able to use it to cover the period when the nights are drawing in and, of course, over the Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night period.

"It is a power that the new Police Community Support Officers can use and the order is working really well in St Thomas.

"We asked for the area it covers to be extended as there have been problems around the Megabowl and the children's play area in Haven Road.

"The order was used 70 times over the past six months for a variety of purposes, including dealing with under-age drinking and youth disorder.

"It has also been used to disrupt suspected drug use and drug dealing."

Local resident Robert Mounce said: "Things have improved since the Section 30 was introduced.

"We used to get groups congregating in Old Vicarage Road but they don't seem to do that any more."

Local councillors have backed the renewal of the dispersal order.

St Thomas councillor Rob Hannaford said: "I am very pleased that the chief executive has signed off on this.

"We need the renewal of the Section 30 to tackle problems of anti-social behaviour and under-age drinking in the ward.

"I am also very pleased with the PCSOs and all their hard work in St Thomas."

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