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Waterloo dispersal - positive feedback

May 24 2009
The dispersal zone has had nothing but positive feedback Local authorities have hailed the success of the Waterloo dispersal zone, half way through its six-month implementation in Lambeth, south London.

Since being introduced on 5th January this year, 90 people have been dispersed and five arrests had been made as The Pavement went to press. A three-month review held by The Bishops Safer Neighbourhood Team, which is made up of local residents and businesses within the ward, revealed the panel had received nothing but positive feedback.

A spokesperson for Lambeth Council added that businesses on London's popular Southbank had been particularly impressed with how rough sleepers and street drinking has been significantly reduced. However, Councillor Mark Bennett, Lambeth Council's cabinet member for community safety, said the scheme was as much about rough sleepers as it is about local residents and the business community. "We are pleased to have significantly reduced rough sleeping and ensure it does not become a persistent problem," he said. "But at the same time many rough sleepers are victims of crime rather than the perpetrators, and we don't want to simply move them elsewhere, so we have used this opportunity to step up our outreach work to help homeless people get off the streets."

Regular readers will note there is no official link between the numbers of individuals being dispersed or moved on and a reduction in homeless figures. Dispersal zones are being introduced in the UK through legislation contained in section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

Currently the Waterloo Zone is the only active dispersal zone in Lambeth. Dispersal zones have been previously used in Clapham, Brixton, Streatham and Norwood, but Lambeth Council gave no information about future plans.
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