Police powers to safeguard 38 streets

From next Saturday a Dispersal Order granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act will be in force in 38 Sidley streets. The news comes just as a 19-year-old man has been banned from entering Bexhill. Police commander Inspector Dick Coates said: "The Order gives us power to disperse two or more people away from an area at any time of the day.

"If these people return to that area they are liable to arrest. For any person under the age of 16 it gives us the power between 9pm and 6am to take them home and present them back to their parents.

"The reason we have gone for this Order is as part of our continuing efforts in Sidley to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime. We feel it is a simple tool to help us crime and the fear of crime.

"We hope to have the order fully in place by November 13."

Sidley people have regularly voiced their fears over drugs, violence and intimidation in the area. To obtain the order, police have worked in partnership with Rother District Council and the Young Offenders Team.

They have also worked with residents through the medium of the new Local Action Teams, which produced a petition signed by hundreds of residents in support of the Order.

The Order, signed by the Divisional Superintendent, has to be publicised in the press and by posters in the Sidley area before it can come into effect.

Sidley councillors Keith and Helen Bridger welcome the move - not just as councillors but as residents who are themselves suffering from anti-social behaviour.

Keith Bridger said: "When this was first mooted we certainly supported it because of the problems we are continuing to have.

"If there is provision for these Orders to be given I hope the police will have the resources to be able to really apply them properly.

"We certainly welcome the initiative.

"We have had problems on our estate. We now have gangs of youngsters aged anywhere from under-10 to their mid-teens. They tend to congregate at the junction of Watergate and Watermill Lane. In the main it's anti-social behaviour but there has been some criminal damage and certainly a lot of aggravation.

"There is a vindictive element in them. Once, you could talk to gets and reason with them. You cannot appeal to their better nature now and I say that after 30 years in the Probation Service. I am used to dealing with people and particularly with young people.

"If they are challenged now they won't listen to reason. The police have been called on numerous occasions in the last two to three weeks.

"As local councillors, we do liaise with the police and with the Anti-Social Behaviour Order co-ordinating officer, who does a lot of hard work."

Roads that are the subject of the order are: Cooper Driver, Kingscott Close, Morgan Close, Langley Close, Carfax Close, Watergate, Faygate Close, Watermill Lane, Ninfield Road, Camperdown Street, Turkey Road, All Saints' Lane, Norfolk Close, Preston Road, Festival Gardens, Cumberland Road, Claremont Road, Sidley Street, Suffolk Road, North Road, Buckholt Lane, Glenburn Close, Crowhurst Lane, Elderwood Close, Meadow Crescent, Ringwood Road, Bank Road, Sidley Green, Ingrams Avenue, Glovers Lane, Stevens Close, Buxton Drive, Wrestwood Road (from Ninfield Road to St James' Road), Bargate Close, Bodle Crescent, Canada Way, Calgary Road and Edmonton Road.