Dispersal orders used to tackle anti-social behaviour at park
POLICE are using dispersal orders in a park after complaints of anti-social behaviour in the area.
Southfields Park in Loughborough has been hit by drug-related problems in recent months.
Inspector Mark Botte, Charnwood Policing Commander said: “Several people suspected of acting anti-socially were ordered out of the area and complied. No one was arrested.”
However, just a few hours before the order under Section 35 was made, a male was arrested in the park in connection with suspected drug offences and an outstanding warrant.
A Section 35 dispersal order gives the police power to direct people to leave a specified area for a given period of time who might have or are likely to commit anti-social behaviour.
Residents have expressed concern about the issues on social media.
One post on the Spotted in and around Loughborough group aired complaints about Southfields Park earlier this year.
One comment read: “I’m sick of the state of Southfields Park. There’s needles in the bushes and someone has been camping there for over a week now.
“The council has spent a lot of money making it nice and that’s great but the main thing it needs is a warden.”
Lez Cope-Newman owns a business in the area and shares the same concerns as locals.
He said: “It’s been reported so many times that people are losing faith now.”
Southfields Park has recently undergone
improvements which are still in the process of being completed but residents have expressed their continuing worry.
“All of the new bits are really nice – the skatepark is fantastic,” said Lez.
“It’s run well in the daytime, it’s just the night that brings in problems.”
Although Southfields Park is the main focus of attention, anti-social problems are affecting the surrounding areas.
“I’ve stopped walking my dog around there now,” said Lez.
“I’ve seen dealings go on in the car park. It’s a bigger problem than just the park.”
Inspector Botte said: “Officers will continue to monitor issues at the park and use Section 35 dispersal orders in the future if necessary as an effective way to tackle such concerns.”
Dispersal orders will also be in place in Queens Park in Loughborough.