Youths loitering in a notorious crime alley are set to be hit with a dispersal order if the council approves the recommendation tonight (October 22).
Residents living near Montrose Path in Biscot have been plagued by anti-social behaviour for years, with at least two residents moving out as a result of the problems.
Purdil Khan, who has lived next to the path on Carlton Crescent for five years, said he often has sleepless nights thanks to the trouble in the alley.
Mr Khan said: “They have broken my fence about four times, I’ve put a brick wall up and they’ve broken that as well. There are always problems, every night they go there and take their drugs, and sometimes I can’t sleep because of the noise. I have four children and they are not happy about it either.
“They will be there from 5 or 6pm every night and will stay until after midnight. I’ve called the police many times but nothing is done.”
A dispersal order would mean a group of two or more people in the Montrose Path area between the hours of 9pm and 6am could be moved on by a police officer if the officer believes their presence may result in members of the public feeling intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed.
They can ask the group to disperse, ask them to leave the locality if they don’t live there, and could also prohibit them from returning to the area for a period of 24 hours.
One resident who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisal said: “It’s noise mainly that’s the problem, but I know they’ve also broken down fences and walls.
“Sometimes you can just hear them all chatting and that’s OK, but sometimes they are doing drugs or causing trouble. They are there every night in the summer and it’s usually a group of teenagers, all males I think.”
Problems reported to the police include criminal damage to fences, grafitti, starting fires and throwing fire bombs into residents’ gardens, drinking alcohol, verbally abusing residents, and making threats towards residents.
The anti-social behaviour has escalated in seriousness and frequency this year.
A Carlton Crescent resident who also did not wish to be named said: “I think a dispersal order would make a difference if they had a good police presence. I do see police about round here so I think it would work.”
The dispersal order is part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and would be exercisable for a period of six months.
> If you are affected by anti-social behaviour, call Bedfordshire Police on 101.