Crackdown on anti-social youths

Together with Hambleton District Council they are working together to establish a dispersal zone in the town to ensure that it remains a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and visit.

Sgt Sharon Findlay, of Thirsk Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "Thirsk is one of the safest and most desirable places in the country to live, but there is a minority of people who spoil the area for others.

"Young people often congregate during the evenings and at weekends, often consume alcohol and indulge in anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and general intimidating behaviour.

"The powers we now have will allow us to deal flexibly with troublemakers causing upset to residents and visitors.

"The residents of Thirsk are rightly proud of the town's image and its attractions which attract a large number of visitors. We certainly want to keep it that way and help the local community and tourists alike continue to enjoy what the town has to offer.

"We have established excellent links with the local community already, and this gives us the chance to improve our relationship with local people and show them that we are taking the problem of anti-social behaviour seriously."

Geoff Lodge, Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinator for the Hambleton Community Safety Partnership added: "The district council has agreed that the zone is necessary and a proportionate response by the police to disorder in the area.

"Other Community Safety Partnership members have also backed it, including Thirsk Town Council and Sowerby Parish Council. The partnership is striving to reduce crime and disorder while at the same time promoting positive activities for young people."

Police already have certain "direction to leave" powers, which are only applicable when alcohol is a factor.

However, with the assistance of Hambleton District Council, police have obtained additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour which is not linked to drinking.

The dispersal zone will give police officers and police community support officers the power to order people to leave the zone and not return for 24 hours, whether they have consumed alcohol or not.

Officers also have powers under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 to take youths under 16 home if they are unaccompanied by an adult and causing trouble within the dispersal zone between 9pm and 6am.

Police will disperse groups of two or more if their presence or behaviour has or has the potential to cause harassment to a member of the public or result in them being intimidated, alarmed or distressed.

The order is in place for six months.

Anyone who fails to comply with an order to disperse runs the risk of arrest and a prison sentence of up to three months.

The dispersal zone is just one of the many methods that Thirsk police are using to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area. They are also members of the YO7 Divert partnership group which organises diversionary activities for local youngsters.

The group organises a "drop- in" for young people on Thursday evenings at East Thirsk Community Hall which provides an opportunity for members of YO7 Divert to meet local youngsters face-to-face.

The area covered by the dispersal order includes The Market Place, St James' Green, Stammergate, Castlegate, Finkle Street, Millgate, Bridge Street, Kirkgate, Sowerby Park and part of Sowerby Flatts, the area bordered by Sowerby Road, Newsham Road, Masonic Lane, Croft View Stables, Footpath from Stammergate to Marage Road and Cod Beck.