2 months ago
24
Police Scotland
Officers have used dispersal powers 438 times since the zone was introduced
Police have arrested 43 people in the first month of a new dispersal zone to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Glasgow city centre.
Officers have used their powers 438 times since the zone was introduced on 20 March - on average 14 times a day - with the majority of warnings to adults over 16.
The zone allows police to ban groups of two or more people from the area for 24 hours if their behaviour is "impacting on the safety and well-being" of others.
Police Scotland said those arrested had returned to the area - which covers Glasgow Central Station and St Enoch Square - in breach of dispersal warnings.
The force said 14 of the 43 arrests were also connected to other offences including breach of the peace, drugs possession, police assault, possession of an offensive weapon and two in connection with sexual assault.
Supt Jackie Dunbar said: "These powers provide officers with an additional tool to address anti-social behaviour and help keep people safe in the city centre and are used proportionately and only when necessary."
"The majority of those who have been issued with warnings have been adults, with very few instances involving those under the age of 16."
The dispersal zone is an area bounded by St Vincent Place, Glassford Street and West Campbell Street to the opposite bank of the River Clyde.
Police Scotland said it would continue to be monitored and kept under review.
Are dispersal zones an effective measure?
Glasgow City Centre anti-social behaviour dispersal zone
Dispersal zone powers are not new but were introduced in Scotland under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.
The aim was to end the "cat and mouse" problem for police officers who often found trouble makers had moved on by the time they arrived.
The new powers also gave officers a new way of dealing with behaviour that while being anti-social, was not serious enough to merit stronger enforcement action.
Failing to comply with a dispersal order became a criminal offence which could lead to arrest under the act.
The review found the dispersal zones were effective in reducing anti-social behaviour, and sometimes things improved after just a couple of weekends.
But it also noted some resentment from young people who complained there were insufficient youth services and alternative places to gather.
More recently the dispersal powers have been used alongside new Firework Control Zones in parts of Edinburgh following repeated incidents around Bonfire Night.
