Bideford news June 2014 Issue | Page 15

News

15

Section 30 powers for Bideford police

Section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 is a power for police officers and PCSO's to disperse groups of people involved in any anti-social behaviour, who are likley to cause others harassment, alarm or distress from a designated area.

Having been dispersed anyone returning to the designated area could be fined up to £2,500 or imprisoned for upto 3 months.

This power is authorised with the support of the local council,

The current Section 30 power came into place to assist the police during the World cup and summer holiday times and will run until 1st September 2014. This map is the area covered by the power.

Bideford man found with £1,300 worth of cannabis in his home .

Bideford man found with £1,300 worth of cannabis in his home .

Benjamin Pridham, 30, of Landcross, pleaded guilty to one charge of production of two cannabis plants and another of possession of 122.14grams of cannabis at North Devon Magistrates’ Court on 20th june 2014.

Tony Dart, for the defence, told the court that Pridham’s home-grown production system was “not a particularly sophisticated operation” and he had no intention of selling the drugs, and was solely for his own use.

Mr Dart told magistrates that Pridham had suffered a breakdown at the age of 19 after his father died and he had “never recovered”.

The court heard that Pridham was a recovering heroin addict and was getting better. Mr Dart said the defendant used the cannabis to help him sleep.

A medical report was passed to the magistrates’ and Mr Dart advised the rest of the court that the report, confirmed that Pridham was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and depression.

“He is coping, he is getting better,” added Mr Dart.

As well as a 24-month conditional discharge, Pridham was ordered to pay £50 in costs and £15 in victim surcharge.

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Youth Centre hubs for Bideford.

A councillor has said that having youth centre hubs was a fair compromise.It follows a review of the Devon Youth Service. A proposal for the council to withdraw completely from all youth provision was put out for consultation in February 2014.

The new model now proposes the retention of 53 staff working both in a targeted role with the most vulnerable and running open access sessions across North Devon.

A man kicked a police officer in the neck in Bideford!

Samuel Jeffs, 22, of Prescott Close, Banbury, Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty to three charges North Devon Magistrates Court on Friday 20th June 2014.The offences included, being drunk and disorderly, the assault of a police officer and using threatening and abusive behaviour. The court heard how Jeff’s had been arrested on 2nd May 2014 in Jubilee Square in Bideford.

Jeff’s was given a 24-month community order and was ordered to pay £50 in compensation to the assaulted police officer, £60 in victim surcharge and £85 in costs.