Whose town? Our town!

This is the original article from The Porkbolter which brought the Dispersal Order issue to the attention of many people in town.

A NAZI-STYLE law has been imposed on Worthing for the summer by Sussex Police, with the backing of the right-wing Tory council.

The three month "dispersal order", known as a section 30 order, has been agreed for parts of Worthing running from June 1 to August 31. The Argus reports: "The order will allow police to move on groups of people causing antisocial behaviour in Worthing town centre, Victoria Park and Homefield Park.

"Under the order police officers and police community support officers can tell any problem groups of two or more people to leave the area and not return for up to 24 hours. Anyone who refuses or breaches the notice can be arrested and could face three months in jail or a fine of up to £2,500."

How could someone be jailed or fined huge amounts of money without having been found guilty of any offence? It only takes one pig-headed prejudiced copper (and there are plenty of them around, in our experience!) to take a dislike to you and you are effectively banned from your own home town without any right to defend yourself!

This is simply outrageous and yet another instance of what a deeply unpleasant country this has become, run for the benefit of a smug wealthy elite who want to enjoy an affluent lifestyle at the expense of a population kept in their place by gangs of hired thugs in uniform. We suspect the law is specifically aimed at young people - whose energy and lust for life is seen as a threat by the dead-eyed politicians, businessmen and cops who run the show.

Accounts vary as to what the official purpose behind the law is. PC Marv Lucas, of Sussex Police, said: “This dispersal zone will help us to combat antisocial behaviour at the same time as looking at longer-term solutions with our partners. [Solutions to what?? What 'partners'??] We are introducing this zone on behalf of the residents and businesses and it is part of the proactive approach to local issues that the police and council take.”

Tom Wye, the council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “I welcome and support this action as it will ensure the residents of Worthing will be able to enjoy the Jubilee and Olympic festivities without having to worry about antisocial behaviour.”

But whether it is in the interests of business, as the police admit, or 'the jubilee and the Olympics' as the Tories claim, it is clearly not there for the benefit of the general population who might want to enjoy the town they live in accompanied by as many friends and family as they fancy - whatever race, creed or age they happen to be.

Whose Worthing? Our Worthing!