Council Clamps Down To Keep The Peace

Council tenants are reminded that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated as the Council and Police continue to clamp-down on complaints which have led to evictions being made.

In a bid to retain peace throughout communities across Redditch the Borough Council and Police can apply to the court to evict a tenant from a Council or housing association property as a last resort if formal attempts to get them to stop have failed.

This means that working together agencies such as Redditch Borough Council and West Mercia Police’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team can evict tenants demonstrating persistent ASB - bringing the property back into use for people on the housing register and restoring peace to communities.

Redditch Borough Council’s Portfolio-holder for housing, Cllr Craig Warhurst, said: “Of course our first step is mediation and while eviction is always the last resort after all efforts have been made, we won’t tolerate behaviour that prevents our communities from living in peace and without fear. Our Neighbourhood and Tenancy team will challenge antisocial behaviour, including through our close working partnership with the police, providing those residents who report it to us confidence that the appropriate steps will be taken.

Redditch authorities recently used these powers in an area of Redditch to bring months of torment for the neighbours to an end.

Sgt Roberts from West Mercia Police said: “Recently we’ve seen a great example of partnership working by the local policing team and Redditch Borough Council to tackle those tenants who are causing anti-social behaviour in their communities. Unfortunately this did lead to an eviction but now the community is at peace. This sends out a strong message that we will not tolerate this behaviour and we urge people to continue reporting any issues to their local policing team.”

Council Leader Matt Dormer added: “There are several different agencies involved in tackling anti-social behaviour which can act if people report a problem, including the council, regulatory services, housing associations, and the police. That’s why we encourage people to report ASB, and the earlier the better. The more people feel able to report an issue, the more attention it will get - before it can grow and potentially become a bigger problem.”