Councillors this week raised concerns over a change to the Section 30 dispersal order in the Mill Road area, and the way in which the decision was taken.

Section 30 dispersal orders are part of the Labour Government’s Anti-Social  Behaviour Act of 2003, and give the police powers to make people leave the area as a method of dealing with anti-social behaviour.

At last Monday’s meeting of Cambridge City Council’s Strategy and Resources Scrutiny meeting, councillors questioned the reducing of the area covered by the dispersal order. The order has been renewed for a further six months but for an area almost half the size it was before, and no longer including the cricket ground and cemetery.

Members of the  public, John Green who lives in the area, and Richard Taylor, a regular attender of council meetings and councillors questioned this decision, taken over the Christmas/ New Year holiday period, and expressed concern about the lack of consultation with local people as well as drawing attention to continued problems with drink-related nuisance, including public urination and intimidation. Police undertook to reimpose the original order if anti-social behaviour escalates again, but were disappointingly vague as to what level of anti-social behaviour would trigger any action.

The East Area Committee has been asked to discuss this when it next meets.

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