Threatening gangs at Angel will be broken up and sent packing
Threatening gangs of youths hanging around the N1 Centre this summer will now be split up by police and sent elsewhere in a move to make the Angel as safe as it can be for shoppers and visitors, and especially law-abiding youngsters.
It’s all about disrupting a gang of young people who have targeted the area in and around the N1 Centre recently, committing violent offences and robbing other youngsters – and trying to mark it out as their territory.
Establishing a ‘dispersal zone’ covering the Angel BID area – backed by Angel BID and Islington Council – means the police can offer extra protection to shoppers and residents by ordering a group of two or more people to disperse. They can also order people to leave the area and not return for 24 hours.
“We welcome young people and all our local students at the Angel, as long as they don’t break the law and behave with respect towards everyone else,” says Angel BID Director Christine Lovett. “Creating this zone means the Angel’s streets will be as safe as possible. The police know the identities of this gang – who are not local residents but may go to local schools – and we want to protect our visitors and residents from them.”
Anyone failing to follow an officer’s order in a dispersal zone is committing an offence, and under 16s can be forcibly returned to their homes or a place of safety by the police if they are on the streets after nine at night and unaccompanied by an adult. These powers will not be used against young people as long as they are behaving reasonably at the Angel.
What is a Dispersal Zone? Answers to your questions
How do I know where it is?
The dispersal area will be marked by signs displayed in the area, which includes a map.
What can the police do?
If a group is gathered in the area authorised for dispersal and they are involved in antisocial behaviour or are causing trouble or problems for others at the location they can be given one or more of the following directions by a police pfficer or Police Community Support Officer (PCSO);
• Disperse
• Leave the authorised area as requested
• Not return to the area for up to 24 hours
In addition if a young person under the age of 16 is in the area between 9pm and 6am, not in the company of a parent or responsible person over 18 and is similarly involved in antisocial behaviour, the officers may remove them to their home address or to a place of safety.
Individuals who happen to live within the area authorised cannot be directed to leave it but can be directed to disperse.
Breach of any of the directions given will lead to arrest.
What if I’m in a group waiting at the bus stop on my way home and not doing anything wrong?
Police officers and PCSOs are seeking to protect the community by enforcing this Order, they are not seeking to disturb people lawfully travelling through or going about their business. In all cases the behaviour of individuals at the time is a key issue in whether they will be dispersed from the area. Most of those dispersed will be from an identified group who frequent the location and commit crimes against young people. These individuals are well known to the police officers & PCSOs who will be policing the location. If you are going about your business and behaving in a reasonable manner you should not be given a direction.
What if I’m arrested?
It is a Criminal offence to breach a direction you have been given by a Police officer or PCSO. In the worst cases this can result in a criminal conviction punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of up to £5,000.
If you repeatedly breach directions in the area and are convicted of those breaches the joint Police & Council Antisocial Behaviour Team will consider applying for an Antisocial Behaviour Order. This is far more serious & can place an individual under particular conditions they must abide by, and which is punishable by up to five years imprisonment if breached.