Tuesday 23 December 2008

Interim ASBOs granted

Thanet district Council press release

Nine interim ASBOs have been granted against people believed to be responsible for numerous acts of anti-social behaviour in Newington.

The nine appeared before Magistrates yesterday (Monday 22 December) in a civil case brought by the Thanet District Council and supported by Kent Police, on behalf of the Thanet Community Safety Partnership.

The partnership have been gathering evidence in recent months from CCTV footage, along with statements from witnesses, who include police officers, police community support officers and the council’s community wardens.

The nine, suspected of being members of a gang on the Newington estate, were told that they would be subject to the interim anti-social behaviour orders between now and court hearings at the end of January. These mean that they cannot congregate together in groups of three or more or go near any of the witnesses in the case. Insulting or offensive behaviour or behaviour likely to cause harassment is also covered by the interim orders.

In agreeing the interim ASBOs, the court stated that it was “just and urgent that these matters are addressed”.

Community Safety Officer Jess Bailey said: “We’re determined to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour in Newington and that’s why we’ve taken this action. issuing interim ASBOs should help prevent some of the problems that residents on the estate have been suffering from over the past few months until we have the full hearing. It’s not a route that the Community Safety Partnership has gone down lightly. We have tried to help this group to change their behaviour and we will be continuing to do that. We’re looking at increasing both education and sporting provision for them as ways of diverting them away from anti-social behaviour, but it’s up to them to take up these opportunities to change their behaviour.”

Inspector Terry Chuter from Kent Police said: ''This is an excellent example of the work of the council, the Newington neighbourhood police team and, most importantly, the Newington community. It sends a clear message out to those who flaunt the law and make the lives of people who live on the estate a misery, that this sort of behaviour won't be tolerated and we will do everything in our power to stop anti-social behaviour. In particular, the residents who took a stand against these youths deserve our praise and will continue to have the support of the partners whilst this process goes through the courts.''

The court hearings are due to take place between Monday 26 and Thursday 29 January 2009.

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