AQW 4123/16-21

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 28/09/2016
Answered On Date: 06/10/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice whether she plans to provide power of dispersal to the PSNI.

Revised Answer:

Building safer communities by preventing anti-social behaviour and reducing the harm that it causes is a key priority for my Department.

The Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 was introduced prior to the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Executive. The then Minister of State, Paul Goggins MP, did not introduce Dispersal Orders at that time.

During the public consultation for the current Community Safety Strategy 2012-2017, respondents to the consultation endorsed a preventive approach to anti-social behaviour, with enforcement seen as a last resort. There were no compelling arguments in support of Dispersal Orders.

My Department is, however, represented on several groups to strategically address anti-social behaviour and its associated issues. The outworking of which has led me to ask my officials to scope out, in association with relevant stakeholders, how a holistic review of anti-social behaviour can be taken forward.