[cc100]

hello

we live on a council estate in a council house. the youths who are harassing us are from bought houses in the close.

over a period of 1-2 years theyve been non-stop annoying/beinga nuisance, throwing egggs, intimidating us- the usual dumb idiotic stuff.

they range between 10-20 years old.

weve done nothing to antagonise them-we keep ourselves to ourselves.

we had the police in-they told them that once more theyd be arrested.
it died down for a month but now its just hell again.

do we call the police again and risk getting in worse? or not?

we are desperately trying to move house.

we are a small family of my mom, me(22) and my sister(23).

it is affecting my mothers health and getting us all down. she is going to try and get the doctors help to get us re-housed because no-one wants to move here, except people from bad areas, where wed just be swapping one group of scum for another. we dont live on a rough estate-its not bad at all-apart from the low lifes.

it is soi tempting just to go outsideand give them a kicking, but that would make it worse.

can anyone give us advice on how to get an exchange or be rehoused?

will a police report/doctors letter help?

thanks
chris1000uk@hotmail.com

[Sticks]

I live in a council area and to be seen speaking to the police is tantamount to collaborating with the enemy or being a grass and people don't like that....

Never let them see that you ever speak to the police.

[bananarama]

will a police report/doctors letter help?

cc100 . I am so sorry to hear you are having such problems. Years ago when my parents were alive a Dr's letter did help them to get a transfer to where i now live.

So i too live on a council estate but have purchased the house. Sadly. The concil in ther ever infinite wisdom move problem families into the same area time and time again thus making the lives of decent people a total misery.

Where I live was once a show case but is now rampant with the families from hell brigade. I must say the police in my area are next to usless.

Try not to be tempted to take them on yourselves as that will start a revenge campaigne and you will find the police are wrapped up in too much red tape of can't do this, can't say that. While they happily play in there panda cars. Sorry if I sound bitter about the police but they give you little reason to be otherwise.

Heres what to do. Keep a diary of every incident. Time and day. When you have compiled such a diary print a copy of it and send it to the police. Your doctor and your council. Always get complaint put in writing. Build up a case for your medical and urgent need to get your parents away from the stress.

Never rely on telephone or personal visit complaints to the council as there is no verification of promises they may give you. As I said before put everything in writing.

If you have a noise problem then bypass the council and complain to the environmental health dept. Hope this helps. Good luck. Banarama

[AndyJK]

Sorry to hear about your predicament CC.

You could contact your local Crime Prevention Officer via your local authority. I understand the more you hassle the council the sooner they leap into action (the one thing council reps hate are tenants who consistently complain). The length of time you and your family have had to endure this anti-social behaviour suggests they should of re-housed you a long time ago.

Another valuable source of information is the Citizen Advice Bureau who can offer you free legal advice. I advise you call them first.

[cc100]

scumbags at it again last night- had my mom in tears.

they make our lives hell.

we have to sit in the dark until about 11pm every night.

[AndyJK]

Originally posted by cc100
scumbags at it again last night- had my mom in tears.

they make our lives hell.

we have to sit in the dark until about 11pm every night.

No one should be forced to be a prisoner in their own home. Have you spoken to the council since you last posted here CC? If so, what did they say?

[bananarama]

cc100.

Has your mum got support from her Dr in the form of a letter for the council.?

Have you re-contacted the Police.?

Have you gone to the Citizen Advice Bureau and crime prevention officer as AndyJK suggested. ?

What have the Council said with regard to getting an exchange or move on medical grounds.?

Are you keeping a diary of incidents like I suggested.?

Do you have the names and address of some or all of the offenders. ?

If you feel the police and Council are letting you down have you thought about contacting you local MP

You have to perservere with the Police and Council these days. Remember when communicating with your council officials to put it on record in writing every time. Phone calls and verbal visits to the local office will most probably fall on deaf ears if you have a sloppy run council dept.

Spell out your problems and fears in writing on a regular basis to keep the matter on top in their "In trays" Keep copies for yourself.

Some 20+ years ago when the Police were Police. I had a similar problem. I chased off some kids who were using my fence as a toilet.

That was a mistake on my part because months of throwing thing and abuse followed and my mother was on the recieveing end of most of it because I worked till late in the evening.

We eventually got a name and the Police went to the School of the individuals. I don't know what was said but the incidents then stopped.

Sitting in the dark each night is just terrible. Pull out all the stops you can to try and resolve this. bananarama

[Sticks]

You may just have to cut your losses and cut and run and let them win.

I had to once

These people are usually below the law and know it. They know the law and can twist it successfully against you and to their advantage.

Sorry but that is the way it is. These people have the upper hand and can do what they like. If you try anything all they have to do is claim you are abusing them and they will be believed.

[bananarama]

cc100 does not own the property so is at the mercy of the council to move him. He can't just cut and run that easily.....

[Sticks]

Thet may have to just hand in the keys and go to a bedsit or a B&B

The way the law is, these people have the law on thier side and can do what they like.

I know because I was in that position and had to leave within 24 hours.

[cc100]

hello

we keep adiary
we keep in contact with police etc


my mom is under the doctor, she does have a letter but the council say were "low priority".

a few weeks ago, the police came to our house, we made a statement and they said theyd go and give them a caution-they later told us that they had done so.

yesterday, we went to the station to report the weekends dealings and they told us they hadnt even seen them.

west mids police are the most incompetent money wasters ever.

when we ring the officer who deals with it, they say that shes not ther and well just email her-we never hear a thing again.

i take what sticks says about not lettoing them see us talking to police, but that doesent bother us.its the state they get my mom in.

shes notold or anything like that(56)but the stress from it all is unbelievable-even the doctor believes its causing arthritis

[bananarama]

west mids police are the most incompetent money wasters ever

Well you have probably noticed my somewhat negative comments about the Police. I too am from the West Midlands and fully agree with the above comment you made.

If i step out of my door I can be on the doorstep of a Police station in a matter of 3 minutes on foot.

They are that many minutes away from the "problem estate" i live on. Are they dealing with these little rat bags that rampage about without regard to anyone. No. As you say. West Midland police........Over the last three years i Have had enough experience regarding their efficiency where I live. Don't get me started or I could fill a book the size of war and peace.......

Has your Dr actually stated in a letter for the council that your mother should be re-housed on medical grounds. If not try and get him to do so.

With a strong letter from your Dr the council should make you a much higher prority. Also presumably they have a waitiing list!! Ask them at what position you are on with that waiting list. Or how many points you have got or whatever half baked inefficient system they are operating under.

I would seriously consider contacting an MP. Preferably a Tory MP. Not because i like them but because they might want to win votes by doing better than a Labour MP could in the struggle against anti social behavour.

[Romantic Old Bird]

Hello CC
I am so sorry about these problems

I think most of the above advice is excellent, re: keeping a diary etc.

I am sure you are one amongst a few this is happening to from these people on your estate. If ithe trouble is from one or two families you may be able to try something else. as well.

My OH worked as an Enforcement officer in planning in our local district council and this is one of the things he did have to deal with.

Councils can apply, if there is enough evidence from neighbours, for an 'ASBO' - anti-social behaviour order, and the families of the offenders COULD be compulsorily evicted.

Try ringing the District Council and asking for the Planning Enforcement Officer. It might help, and it won't do any harm. They have to respect your confidentiality and won't divulge who complained if you ask them not to.

[AndyJK]

CC, you have to really kick up a fuss with your local authority for them to do anything. It's the only way the council respond.

Speak to your local Crime Prevention Officer, and tell them the situation has become utterly unbearable. Stress the anti-soical behaviour you have had to endure, the length of time it has been occurring, your Mum's health, the fact it is still ongoing even after the police have intervened. Give any examples which go in your favour and that you are good tenants. And insist you have to be rehoused out of the area

I strongly advice you explain your circumstances to someone at the Citizen Advice Bureau first, and so they can advice you legally where you stand should the council refuse to take any action. (Some CAB's are more helpful than others, if the member of staff does not know, they will find out on your behalf and get back to you).

You can find UK CAB numbers over the net as well as your local Yellow Pages, they all offer the same service but obviously your closer one to you will be cheaper in chall charges. I did a quick search in the Midlands and found the number for one of the Nottingham offices Kirkby-in-Ashfield (Mon – Fri 10am – 3pm and Thurs 4pm – 6pm)
29 Portland Street
01623 557686

[BusyBee]

Councils can apply, if there is enough evidence from neighbours, for an 'ASBO' - anti-social behaviour order, and the families of the offenders COULD be compulsorily evicted.

I deal with harassment of this sort every day, but on a partner/family member basis. We dont deal with neighbour problems of this type because it is very very difficult to get a result.

Keeping a diary is a very good idea, and please dont worry about contacting the Police - make yourself as much of a nuisance as you can.

Any letters or back up you can get from Doctors, Social Services etc is of help and get them to write direct to the Housing Department. Keep on at them too. They'll get so fed up they may decide to rehouse you to 'shut you up'.

We have an organisation in this area called Shelter who help people in your situation. If you have one contact them. We also have a Law Advice Centre in town - you may have one. If so contact them - they have helped a lot of people who have come to us who we cant help. For some reason legal aid is very difficult to get in this type of case.

Just to finish on a positive note - one of our client's who we were dealing with on a different matter was suffering from problems with neighbours. It took a while but she did win and got a transfer to another property.

JUST KEEP ON TRYING AND ANNOYING THE AUTHORITIES. IT CAN BE DONE, BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE AND BE BLOODY MINDED ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. DONT LET ANYONE FOB YOU OFF.

[bananarama]

Also on a positive note: I used to work with a middle aged guy. Nice but a bit eccentric. I knew him for 7 years and out of that 7 years he and his wife moved council house 7 times. West midlands. As soon as he was settled in one house and done it up he would then pester the council to move him again.

They had no antisocial neighbour problems. Or health problems. They were just compulsive eccentric house movers.

They did it by keeping on at the council so they moved them to shut them up.

So as others have advised. keep up the pressure on the council and inspite of the lack of ability of the police don't stop contacting them also. If they have an incident number when you report things then ask them for it so you can pass on the proof of complaint to the council officials.