Exclusion zones target teenagers

Date published: 25 May 2010

DRUNKEN teens on village streets in Saddleworth could be in for a sharp shock as local police enforce tough new measures to tackle disorder.

Using revised powers under Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, the Neighbourhood Policing Team will now be able to create exclusion zones for youths suspected of causing trouble.

The rule change means that youngsters — potentially as young as 10 — can now be ordered to leave a specified area for 48 hours.

Insp Danny Milovanovic said: “The sanction is that they can be arrested if they return to the area but we will only use it if we think it is necessary.

“We want to engage with these youths and build relations with them, we don’t want to be zero tolerant but we hope this will provide short-term benefits.”

The tactics will be used to combat village hotspots such as Greenfield and Diggle park where, the inspector says, residents have become sick and tired of drunken disorder from youngsters.

The force hailed their recent project, Operation Divert, a success after a reduction in anti-social behaviour cases of 28 per cent since January.