A MAN from Brent who breached a dispersal order put in place to prevent intimidating behaviour has been sentenced in court.
Patrick Joseph O’Connor, 47, of Donnington Road, was sentenced to 12 months conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £30 costs at Brent Magistrates Court at the end of last month.
The dispersal zone was introduced on September 12 this year after residents and business owners complained of large groups of people loitering, drinking alcohol, shouting, swearing and fighting, littering, and urinating in public. Local residents, businesses and school children were being intimidated by the behaviour of some people in the area, so the zone was introduced to cover Grange Road, the High Road, Brondesbury Park junction, Staverton Road, Chambers Lane and Harlesden Road.
A dispersal zone allows police officers and pcsos to instruct people of any age group who are causing trouble to leave and not return within 24 hours. If they do return and cause problems they can be arrested.
O’Connor was arrested on September 16 for breaching the order outside Willesden Library.
He admitted the charge in court, when he appeared on September 27.
Sergeant Damian Mattock from Willesden Green Safer Neighbourhoods Team said: "The sentence of O'Connor will hopefully serve to demonstrate how seriously ourselves and the courts take the dispersal zone. It was established in response to the demands of local residents whose lives were being blighted by continued drinking and anti-social behaviour in and around the library.
"We will continue to listen to the local community and their concerns, and work hard to make Willesden a nicer place to live and work."
Councillor Lincoln Beswick, lead member for crime prevention and public safety said: “I would like to commend the dedication of Brent Council and Police officers. We will continue to work in partnership with our colleagues from various organisations to prevent, enforce and support the reduction of crime in Brent.”
The dispersal zone will run until March 12 2012.
