Nuisance neighbours
Tuesday August 24, 2010
Tough action is being taken on anti-social behaviour as the Council and H&F Homes set out to make the borough’s estates safer places to live and visit.
In the last year more than 800 warning letters were sent out to residents and more than 950 alleged perpetrators interviewed.
Working closely with H&F Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour unit, the zero-tolerance approach has seen 59 tenants slapped with a Notice Seeking Possession, which is a final warning for anti-social residents to toe the line.
A total of six tenants have been evicted because they allowed their homes to be used as crack houses or for people to buy drugs that were being used in communal areas.
Residents have given the service their seal of approval, with 68% saying they were satisfied with the way their anti-social behaviour complaint was dealt with, up from 55% two years ago.
And a £1 million programme to upgrade 300 CCTV cameras on estates into a state-of-the-art surveillance system that began earlier this year will further reassure residents.
Councillor Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Resident Services said: “No resident should have to live in fear of thugs or gangs of youths roaming our estates and this report shows just how seriously we take their complaints.
“Every single complaint will be fully investigated and I would urge each and every resident to speak up against crime, because your information is crucial in stopping people who are intent on causing havoc.”
The authority takes a zero-tolerance approach towards people who insist on making their neighbours lives a misery, but eviction is always a last resort and used only for the most serious and persistent offenders.
Four people were also given suspended or postponed possession orders, which allowed people to stay in their homes as long as they stuck to rules imposed by the court.
H&F Homes also referred 466 complaints of anti-social behaviour to partners such as the Police, Neighbourhood Wardens and the Professional Witness Service. A total of 10 injunctions have been issued to bring a court-enforced halt to anti-social behaviour such as noise nuisance.
A 17-strong team of Neighbourhood Wardens focusing on the borough’s estates were unveiled in March to crack down on litter louts, graffiti vandals and street drunks.
The team replaced the Estate Wardens with a highly-visible presence. They have the power to issue fines for dog fouling and littering and will also help schools with truancy patrols and back-up Police to enforce the borough-wide controlled drinking zone.
The wardens are also involved in diversion work to give young people something constructive to do, with projects including football and music workshops.
To read the full H&F Homes Anti-social behaviour review 2009-10 go to www.hfhomes.org.uk (opens new window), where you can also report ASB in confidence
To report an incident of Anti-social behaviour contact your area office on 020 8753 4400 if you live in the north of the borough and 020 7385 3355 if you live in the south. In an emergency always call 999.
