The Safer Newport Partnership is set to introduce two new dispersal orders in the Rogerstone area of Newport to reduce levels of antisocial behaviour.
Safer Newport decided to take action after receiving complaints from residents about large groups of youngsters gathering in the area on Friday evenings and into the early hours of Saturday mornings.
During one night in February this year Gwent Police received 19 calls from residents reporting antisocial behaviour including underage drinking, shouting and swearing, urinating, littering, and the intimidation of residents, businesses and passers-by.
After gathering information and evidence, Newport West Neighbourhood Policing Team and Newport City Council authorised the implementation of two dispersal orders – one covering Afon Village and the other Thornbury Park and surrounding streets.
Both orders will run from Tuesday 8th June 2010 until Tuesday 7th December 2010 and the powers will be enforced on every Friday and Saturday during this period.
Dispersal orders give police officers and PCSOs the power to direct any groups of two or more people, or vehicles, to leave a specified area.
Anyone who refuses to leave, or returns to the area within 24 hours, when ordered to do so can be arrested under the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003.
The only exclusions to the order will be any prearranged public events that may be held in the area.
The dispersal order for Afon Village will cover Meadowland Drive, Lilac Grove Snowdrop Lane, Camellia Avenue, Dewberry Grove, Daffodil Lane, Gerbera Drive, Campanula Drive, Delphinium Road, Bluebell Way, Rivermead Way, Afon Mead, Primrose Way, Violet Walk, Rose Walk, Marigold Close, Poppy Place, Lavender Way, Afon Ebbw Road, Azalea Way, Jasmine Close, Petunia Walk, Buttercup Close, Burberry Close, Fuscia Way, Iris Road, Lilly Way, Lobiellia Close and Michaelmas Close.
All footpaths, woodland, waste ground and park areas along the Afon Ebbw River are also included.
The order for the Thornbury Park area will cover Thornbury Park, Ebenezer Drive, Tudor Drive, Reservoir Close, Thomas Grove, Hubert Rise, Bensons Avenue, Willis Row, Leslie Terrace, Windsor Place, Phillips Green, David Walk, Lewis View, and surrounding playing fields up to the end of, and including, Cecil Lane and the footpath and subway under Chartist Way.
Crime and Disorder Reduction Officer Pc Paula Spence, of Newport West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We applied for these two dispersal orders after listening to the concerns of the public.
“Residents who attended PACT meetings in recent months have told us about the unacceptable behaviour of these groups of youngsters and have voted to make antisocial behaviour a policing priority in the area.
“We have carried out successful police operations there in the past and confiscated large quantities of alcohol, but the introduction of these dispersal orders will give us further powers to break-up groups of youths hanging around the area and causing trouble.”
A spokesman for Newport City Council said: “We will continue to engage with young people in the area as we try to find a long-term solution to this problem.”
