Blitz on Brick Lane crime

By Lara Cerroni

26 July 2010

Brick Lane will be the focus of a major crime-busting initiative as the council, in partnership with the police, cracks down on alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

A new dispersal zone has been introduced giving police the powers to move on troublemakers.

Supported by high-visibility patrols and the council’s community safety bus which provides visitors with lots of useful information, the new initiative is part of the Tower Hamlets Safer Together campaign.

Sergeant Charlie Earwicker from Whitechapel town centre team said: “We’ve consulted with local residents, businesses and partner agencies who are supportive of the implementation of this dispersal zone.

“This is one of several initiatives that we are carrying out in the area to reassure the public and make Brick Lane a safer, cleaner place to live, work and visit.”

Starting on July 23 and running until August 28, the zone operates every Friday and Saturday evening between 6pm and 2am.

At the same time a team of 20 dedicated police officers will be on patrol in the area.

Lead councillor for community safety Abdal Ullah said: “This is good news for residents. This new initiative will see us working alongside the police to help make residents feel safer.

“This is one of a number of crime-fighting measures that we’re taking to make this a reality for all.”

The council’s community safety bus will be on site every weekend to give out information and safety advice.

The Whitechapel and Brick Lane area experiences ten per cent of the borough’s violent crimes which is why it is the focus of additional crime-fighting activity.

A similar initiative took place at the same time last year and helped reduce crime by six per cent.

The dispersal notice allows the police to remove troublemakers from the area for up to 24 hours. Young people under the age of 16 found unaccompanied can be taken home by a uniformed officer after 9pm.