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Aberdeen Dispersal

Area

Aberdeen

Intelligence - what was the nature of the antisocial behaviour?

The Beach Boulevard area attracted "boy racers" for 40 years. Local residents have been bothered by the excessive noise of revving cars, racing, loud music, littering, urinating and other types of antisocial behaviour for many years. The Local Authority, Local Council & Police have been working to find a solution that suits all concerned, including working with the "boy racers".

Involvement - which partners were involved?

Aberdeen City Local Authority
Grampian Police

Intervention(s) - which intervention(s) were used and why?

Dispersal – due the numbers of racers involved and the nature of the issues, it was generally inappropriate to use Seizure of Vehicles legislation.  Off road driving was not an issue and detection of careless driving was difficult due to the road layout.  In addition to the driving problems, the racers were gathering in groups with their cars, and causing alarm and distress to members of the public in the same area.  It was therefore felt that the power to disperse these groups would have a knock on effect on the driving.

Implementation - how were the intervention methods realised in practice?

Grampian became the first police force in Scotland to use the new powers, when the dispersal area came into force at 8.00pm on March 1st 2005.  Notices informing residents were pinned up in the area, as well as posted in local newspapers and leaflets distributed to houses and businesses prior to the dispersal area coming into force.

Grampian Police also ensured that officers who put up the notice in the area signed statements to confirm they had done this.  Photographs were also taken of the notice affixed to lampposts etc, as evidence the public were informed.

Impact - what were the outcomes for the perpetrator(s), the victims and the wider community?

Large reduction in number of complaints from residents during the first dispersal period through to the end of May 2005. Grampian Police felt that the residents/community would benefit from the dispersal area continuing for another 3 months and therefore drew up a new authorisation notice that commenced at 8.00pm on 31 May 2005.

Whilst considering whether to go ahead for another 3 months they had to decide whether there were still significant and serious problems to warrant action. They made the decision that there were still valid reasons for the existence of a dispersal area. Grampian outlined that there had been a significant reduction in the number of complaints received regarding groups of drivers behaving in an antisocial manner. They also examined last year statistics for the summer months where complaints between June & September rocketed to the highest levels with regards to behaviour of drivers etc in the beach boulevard area.

It was felt that to only have had a dispersal in place for 3 months, which gave respite to residents, but to then end these measures at a time of the year where most complaints occur would lead to the problems being intensified. They were concerned about causing a lot more distress to the residents throughout the summer months.  

This authorisation finished at the end of August 2005 and a new notice was not drawn up. Nighttime closure of Beach Boulevard is now being considered.

Are there any practices/experiences you have gained during this Intervention that would influence the handling of future Interventions?

Two men were charged with breaching an order to disperse, and after several adjournments, were found guilty of an offence under Section 22 of the Act.  The Sheriff accepted that their conduct, driving repeatedly in a circuit around the area, gave reasonable grounds to believe that they were likely to be engaged in antisocial behaviour and the Police were therefore entitled to require them to disperse.

More information about this type of intervention

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