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Police hold key to breaking up gangs

From the archive, first published Friday 1st Jul 2005.

New police powers to break up gangs of yobs have been agreed for eight areas in south Sandwell in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour in the borough.

Areas slapped with orders include Blackheath town centre, Cradley Heath town centre and Old Hill (including Riddins Mound and Codsall estates), Brickhouse estate, Rowley Regis and Lion Farm, Whiteheath and Wallace Road, Oldbury.

Dispersal orders give police powers to break up groups of two or more people, and return unsupervised young people under 16 in public places after 9pm to their home addresses.

Councillor Keith Davies, cabinet member for community safety and partnerships, said: "The Council is keen to support police applications for dispersal orders where there is evidence of significant and persistent problems identified by the local community and data.

"This is another excellent example of the increasing joined-up approach to tackling nuisance, with the council, police and other organisations working together under the Safer Sandwell Partnership's Anti-Social Behav-iour Tasking Group."

Chief Superintendent Phil Raw, South Sandwell Police commander, said: "These powers are a valuable additional tool for us when we deal with groups which continually blight local communities.

"I am convinced these orders will continue to help us tackle problems and improve community safety."

Six previous dispersal orders - which have been running successfully across the south of the borough in recent months - have just expired.

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