Officers have been given extra powers to deal with the possibility of a potential unlicensed music event on Woolwich Common this evening.

In response to reports of the possibility of this event, police have authorized a Section 35 Dispersal Order covering the area.

This will be in place from 5pm today (Friday, February 16) until 12pm tomorrow (Saturday).

The order grants extra powers to police officers and boundaries of this order are outlined in a map released by Greenwich Police.

Under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Police Officers and designated Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in uniform will be able to exclude individuals from the specified area for up to 48 hours.

The S35 dispersal power is to be used by authorities to address anti-social behaviour and criminal activities involving individuals aged 10 or above.

It can be used not just when anti-social behaviour is ongoing or has occurred, but also when there is a likelihood of it occurring.

The officer must “have reasonable grounds to suspect that a person's behaviour in the locality has contributed to, or is likely to contribute to, members of the public in the locality being harassed, alarmed or distressed, or the occurrence in the locality of crime or disorder”.

The increased police powers aim to pre-emptively address and mitigate potential disturbances related to unlicensed music events in the Woolwich Common area.

A spokesperson for Greenwich Police said: “From 17:00 this afternoon, until 12:00 on Saturday 18th February 2024, a S35 Dispersal Order will cover the Woolwich Common area, authorised by Insp. Engelbrecht due to intelligence there might be an Unlicensed Music Event.

“The map below details the boundaries of this order.

“Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 gives a Police Officer and a Police Community Support Officer in uniform the power to exclude a person from an area for a period of up to 48 hours with an Inspector’s authority.

“The S35 dispersal power will be used by Police Officers and designated PCSOs to deal with individuals aged 10 or over engaging in anti-social behaviour or crime and disorder not only when it has occurred or is occurring, but also when it is likely to occur in the locality.

“The officer must have reasonable grounds to suspect that a person's behaviour in the locality has contributed to, or is likely to contribute to, members of the public in the locality being harassed, alarmed or distressed, or the occurrence in the locality of crime or disorder.

“The Police Officer or PCSO must consider that giving a direction to the person is necessary for the purpose of removing or reducing the likelihood of the above.”