A DRUG dealing and street drinking hotspot in Hayes town has been made a ‘dispersal zone’, giving police powers to chuck loitering groups out of the area.
The notice applies to the area bordered by Central Avenue, Longmead Avenue, Coldharbour Lane and Botwell Lane, including East Avenue and all alleyways and car parks, and gives police powers to bar people intimidating the general public from the area for up to 24 hours.
Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre sits within the perimeter.
Under 16s who are not accompanied by an adult can be taken home by a uniformed officer. Anyone who doesn’t follow the direction can be fined, or even jailed.
The order, in place daily between 11am and 2am, came into force on Monday and will run for six months, to November 20.
The notice has been brought by the Botwell Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and Hillingdon Council, who say they have identified particular problems including alcohol-related nuisance and drug dealing in the area.
In December last year, the bottom half of High Street, Harlington and surrounding streets, became a dispersal zone, and part of Uxbridge town centre followed suit in January.
The Botwell SNT can be contacted on 020 8721 2757.
n Do exclusion zones work? If not, what would you like police to do instead? www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/tellus or see pages 14 and 15 for other ways to get in touch.
