A dispersal order was in place in Lewisham Town Centre from 1 June 2006 until 30 May 2007.
The Safer Lewisham Partnership (SLP) agreed that the order should expire, at their meeting on 18 May 2007.
The decision was discussed at the Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee meeting on 13 June 2007.
How the order worked in Lewisham
The dispersal order was enforced by the Lewisham Town Centre Safer Neighbourhood Team, supported by the Councils wardens, detached youth workers, and youth workers from 4 REAL (Race Equality Action Lewisham).
The success of the order in reducing anti-social behaviour has been very much a consequence of this multi-agency approach.
The powers granted by the dispersal order were used sparingly, and in proportion to need.
The order was used 28 times between 1 June 2006 and 30 April 2007. However, half of all incidents were recorded in June 2006. Except for one incident in October 2006, when 18 people were asked to disperse, all other cases involved between one and five people.
Exit strategy and future use of the dispersal order
When the dispersal order ended, the exit strategy involved a month of focused patrols by the Safer Neighbourhood Team, supported by others such as youth workers and council wardens.
By the end of the month it appeared that there had been no noticeable rise in crime and disorder. That is still the case, but the situation is being monitored by officers from the council and the police.
In addition to the proactive work around the town centre, the Council have also part-funded four additional Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), who have been aligned to the Lewisham Central Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team.
The option to quickly reinstate the order remains if circumstances change.
Review of dispersal order (November 2006)
Initially, the dispersal order was due to run until 30 November 2006. The Safer Lewisham Partnership (SLP) agreed to extend the period of the dispersal order by six months, at their meeting on 20 November 2006.
To inform this decision, the SLP asked Continental Research to conduct a survey of people’s opinions.
Reactions to the dispersal order
In summary, shoppers and teenagers were more in favour of the dispersal order, whereas traders tended to be most negative about the dispersal order.
The reaction of all groups was initially negative. However, on reflection, many people felt that the dispersal order seemed rational and beneficial. Findings from the research included on balance:
- Black young males were most in favour of the dispersal order. They were most likely to have been directly affected by it, and see the benefits of it.
- Shopper's views on the dispersal order were mixed, dependent on the extent to which they considered anti-social behaviour to be a problem.
- Traders had generally negative views of the dispersal order.
There was some general acknowledgement that Lewisham Town Centre had improved since Summer 2006, and that it was now a more pleasant place to be.
All groups would like Lewisham Town Centre to be improved, and to become more of a centre for relaxation and enjoyment, rather than simply functional shopping.
Further information on the review of the dispersal order
You can download a presentations with the full details of the research below. The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee considered the report at a meeting on 11 January 2007.