Bus station yobs dispersed

Friday January 29, 2010

Intimidating youths are being targeted by a ‘dispersal zone’ centred on Hammersmith bus station.

The zone, which is now in place until July 2010, allows Police to banish troublemakers if they are causing or are likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress. If they refuse to go they can be arrested.

Hammersmith Broadway Shopping Centre is covered by the zone as well as the bus station and bus station extension.

Sergeant Jane Penney from the Hammersmith Hub Team said: “The dispersal zone has been introduced to prevent members of the public, including bus station staff, from being intimidated by large groups of youths in the bus station.”

Anyone found guilty of breaching the dispersal zone’s conditions faces three months behind bars or a £2,500 fine. Youths under 16 years and not under the effective control of an adult can also be marched home to their parents.

In April 2009, Hammersmith Broadway was the third ward in the borough to gain an elite squad of council funded beat bobbies. The council is spending more than £1.8 million a year on three enhanced town centre squads with the other two teams patrolling Shepherds Bush Green and Fulham Broadway.

Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Cabinet Member for Crime & Street-Scene, says: “A minority of troublemakers cannot be allowed to disrupt the lives of the law-abiding majority.  We are giving the police all of the tools they need to make Hammersmith Broadway safer – in the form of extra beat bobbies and now this dispersal zone – and we are determined that the rights of decent residents come before these louts.”

To report anti-social behaviour anywhere in the borough call 020 8753 2693.