For the residents of Woolton Village, patrolling police cars are not a regular sight.
Well, at least they didn't used to be.
For the past few weekends, the affluent south Liverpool neighbourhood has been crawling with officers who have been trying to keep a lid on an explosion of anti-social behaviour in the village.
The reported problems have included large gangs of youths "marauding" the streets and intimidating local people. Fireworks being shot at cars and pets and people climbing on top of local businesses and causing damage.
READ MORE: DWP to pay five cost of living payments before Christmas
The problems have grown to such a level that for repeated weekends the police have introduced dispersal orders covering the village. Dispersal orders give police special powers to move on people gathering in groups of more than two where anti-social behaviour is taking place and to take the names and addresses of the youths.
We asked Merseyside Police how it believes this action has gone and how the powers have been used in Woolton in recent weeks.
Community Policing Inspector Neil Birkett said: “During the two Dispersal Zones issued this month, we issued a total of eight dispersals, meaning that those groups have left the area after officers received reports. Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for, and we will do this when necessary. Publicising this activity and engaging with all members of the community does have a positive impact."
He added: “Police don’t take such action lightly, but it isn’t about bothering people going about their regular lives, it is about ensuring residents and businesses do not suffer such behaviour and criminality. It should also be mentioned that not all groups of young people gathering are causing issues. Over the past two weekends, we have engaged with groups of people and asked them to leave the area when appropriate, helping them understand where their presence and actions may be intimidating to some people living in the area."
He added: “In addition, I’d continue to ask people to contact us with any information around anti-social behaviour, including the illegal sale of fireworks to young people. In the run-up to the Halloween and Bonfire Night period, we will have resources across Liverpool and the whole of Merseyside to minimise the impact that anti-social behaviour has on our communities. If you witness any anti-social behaviour or have any information about such incidents, please contact or speak to our officers and we will take action.”
So how has the action gone down locally? Well, it was Woolton Liberal Democrat Councillor Malcolm Kelly and his colleagues who asked the police to step in and help with the anti-social issues in the area, he has been out to meet with police during the time that dispersal orders have been in place in the village.
He said: "I have been out myself in the evenings to meet up with police and have seen them engage with young people very effectively, which has enabled them to collate information about the areas from which they are travelling and which schools they attend. Young people have been moved away from the area of Woolton Village, Dispersal Notices issued, items such as fireworks have been confiscated and young people have been spoken to in the presence of parents.
"Overall the action from the various agencies is having a positive impact on the area, firstly by moving young people away from causing anti-social behaviour, and secondly by getting the strong message across to these young people that Woolton Village is not the place to go to cause anti-social behaviour.
"I think it's important that as well as recognising the effect that anti-social behaviour has on local businesses and local residents alike, it also effects the vast majority of other young people who live around the Village and who are well behaved and do not get involved in this sort of behaviour, and any action taken in the area cannot disadvantage them, which is something that is also recognised by the police."
READ NEXT:
