Dispersal zones 'not working'

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Dispersal orders, which allow police to break up intimidating groups of people from pre-designated zones, have created an increase in crime in neighbouring areas, notably criminal damage, by up to 83% according to the first major study of the dispersal orders.

The orders did produce a short-term reduction in crime in the problem areas, in one area crime fell 39%, but sometimes this was only for the duration of the order, the study, which focused on Leeds and Sheffield, said.

Professor Adam Crawford, of the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Leeds, said: "Unless dispersal orders are part of a wider, multi-agency strategy to provide alternative activities and venues for young people, the powers merely put a sticking plaster over local problems of order and invariably fail to address the wider causes of perceived anti-social behaviour."

Under The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 police can send home any young person under 16 who is out in the dispersal zone after 9pm.

Researchers found that young people felt they were unfairly targeted by the dispersal orders. In one area, more than half of young people said that the dispersal order had a negative impact on their feelings towards the police.

The study found a decline in young people congregating in the dispersal zones during the use of the order and some residents reported feeling more confident about going out in the area.

Since 2004 when the orders were introduced, more than 1,000 areas have been designated dispersal zones in England and Wales.

The study concludes by warning against Government proposals to extend the dispersal powers by taking out a current layer of authorisation saying they will undermine the aim of the dispersal orders.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Dispersal orders are not intended to be used in isolation, but should form part of an integrated response to tackling crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour in local areas."