Working together to fight anti-social behaviour

After a tenant brought misery to the lives of his neighbours, Rosebery Housing Association felt it had no other option but to approach Epsom and Ewell Borough Council for help in seizing ‘noise making equipment’ and prosecuting the tenant as a last resort.

Rosebery had received a serious number of complaints about the noisy activities of a Hollymoor Lane tenant, with many neighbours upset about the disturbance caused by music playing constantly throughout the night. Following unsuccessful attempts to resolve it, Rosebery sought support from the Environmental Health Department of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council.

Staff from the Council’s Environmental Health Team took sound recordings of the noise and, as a result, the tenant was served with a Noise Abatement Notice ordering him to stop causing a nuisance. This was ignored and so Rosebery and Council staff visited the tenant several times to warn him to stop. Despite providing help to curb his behaviour (at one stage he was even supplied with a pair of headphones for his use), the noise persisted and the decision was taken to remove the tenant’s ‘noise making equipment’ from the property.

Supported by the evidence of the recordings and information from other Rosebery residents, the Council secured a warrant and, accompanied by Police and a Rosebery Neighbourhood Officer, gained entry to the property to remove all noise making equipment including a hi-fi, speakers, surround sound systems, a digital radio and a football which was being used in the communal hallways at night.

Five weeks later another equipment seizure was carried out at the same address as the tenant had obtained another stereo. Following both seizures, the tenant was then prosecuted by the Council and received a £200 fine plus the Council’s costs.

Rosebery and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council feel that the result is a big step in the battle against anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Jean Smith,  Chairman of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Environment Committee, said: “The Council receives in the region of 400 noise complaints a year and it is rare to have to take this form of extreme action. Nevertheless where an individual or organisation is causing nuisance, the Council will do its best to investigate, and in conjunction with our partners, pursue the offenders where necessary.”

Tom Denton, Neighbourhood Officer for Rosebery, added: “Incidents of anti-social behaviour are a real concern for local people and we have been working hard to try to resolve incidents on Hollymoor Lane. Unfortunately our tenant refused to work with us, so we had no alternative but to take further action because of the problems he caused to other residents. We have worked in close partnership with Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to deal effectively with this problem and we hope it sends out the message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.”