FRESH crime-fighting powers could be used by police officers outside a community facility plagued by anti-social behaviour. Groups of alcohol-swigging teenagers shouting abuse have become a familiar sight outside Alton Community Centre late at night, especially when there are live music events inside the centre. Passers by and centre users alike have been intimidated by the gangs using the car park as a place to congregate. Over the last two years, windows have been smashed, the minibus vandalised, a CCTV camera ripped from the wall and the caretaker assaulted. The trail of destruction has resulted in repair bills totalling thousands of pounds for the charity. In the latest incident, yobs climbed onto the roof of the centre while repair work was being carried out and ripped off tiles and flashings, doubling the eventual bill. Now police officers in Alton are considering implementing a dispersal zone or an alcohol restriction zone in the vicinity of the centre to tackle the problem. Police have already stepped up patrols in the area at weekends, but believe that the designations would provide an additional weapon in the fight against crime. Community centre manager Richard Swainston has welcomed the possible introduction of the new police powers, but said that these alone would not tackle the problem. "It has been a running battle over the last two years, causing several thousand pounds worth of damage," he said. "About a fortnight ago we had scaffolding up to repair the roof because it was leaking. These characters got up on this scaffolding and managed to rip tiles and flashings off another part of the roof. The bill was double the original estimate. It was £1,500 in the end. As a charity, we can't afford to take these hits. "We have had numerous broken windows, our minibus has been vandalised, the CCTV camera was ripped off the wall, our caretaker was assaulted. "It is a group of youths that hang around outside drinking. It is usually when we have live music. It is like an attraction for them, they don't want to join in. It is just an opportunity for them to physically and verbally abuse people, throw rubbish, set fire to bins and generally cause a nuisance." Mr Swainston added: "We are desperately trying to work with other agencies to try and resolve these things and I do welcome any initiative from the police but these zones are only one weapon in a range of actions that should be taken. "We work very closely with the Hampshire County Youth Service and we are looking at integrating some sort of parenting course into our leisure learning programme that we operate at 16 venues throughout the district. "We have got to look at the wider issues of poor family life and abuse - physical and mental. When you look at the statistics a lot of these characters come from very dysfunctional backgrounds and that is what really needs to be tackled and that is what we are trying to work with through our membership of the Alton School's Anti Social Behaviour Panel and the East Hampshire Drug and Alcohol Reference Group. Both of these groups have only been going for the last six months. "I'm very concerned that these are local issues that need local solutions. What might be right for Petersfield and Bordon may not be right for here. I'm very keen that we should have Alton- based forums and not district or countywide forums." Over the last few months changes have been made to the area outside the car park in a bid to tackle the problems including cutting back the undergrowth, removing benches and adding a high power white light to the building, facing the car park. And this has had a positive impact on the centre. "It is getting better, the message is going out that we are taking things seriously," Mr Swainston said. At the end of the month, East Hampshire District Council's cabinet is to consider funding a package of improvements to the centre's car park including upgrading the lighting. And the centre, which is a member of Alton Chamber of Commerce and Industry, wants to upgrade its CCTV system to provide seven in total, five external and two inside. The cameras would be linked up to the wider CCTV system covering the town, currently being trialled, and it is hoped to be online sometime next year. Alton town sector Sergeant Greg Moore said he was in the early stages of considering the area outside the community centre for a dispersal zone or an alcohol restriction zone. "We are looking at the various options we have got because we are getting large groups congregating, drinking alcohol. Bottles are being smashed, litter is being left and there is a general nuisance to other users," he said. "We are looking at both possibilities, working with partnership agencies, but obviously we have got to have the evidence. We are currently putting out high visibility patrols at the weekend and a number of people have been detained, prosecuted and given fixed penalties." Sgt Moore has urged the public to report any instances of anti-social behaviour to police on 0845 045 45 45. What is a dispersal zone? Sanctioned by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, the zone gives police the power to disperse groups of two or more youths and ban them from returning to the area within 24 hours. If they fail to comply, they can be arrested and could face a fine of up to £5,000 or up to three months in prison. After 9 pm officers are able to take unsupervised under 16s home to their parents. What is an alcohol restriction zone? Introduced under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, and amended by the Licensing Act 2003, police can control the consumption of alcohol in a designated area, using a range of discretionary powers including a requirement for people who are creating a nuisance to cease drinking and/or surrender their alcohol. Those who fail to comply face on-the-spot fines and possible imprisonment.
