Cllr Caulfield

A tenant whose late night parties and offensive behaviour angered neighbours has been shut out from her home under Brighton & Hove’s first ever ‘closure’ order granted for severe anti-social behaviour.
 
Magistrates granted the order after hearing that neighbours regularly endured long bouts of extremely loud music into the early hours in the morning.
 
The nuisance, which also included loud and aggressive shouting, swearing, verbal abuse and intimidation, was so extreme that some residents had to move out at weekends.
 
The closure was part of the Turning the Tide initiative that aims to tackle problems such as anti-social behaviour as well as introduce measures to improve employment and health prospects.
 
Brighton and Hove Magistrates Court granted a Premises Closure Order for a Council flat in Hove under the ASB (Anti Social Behaviour) Act 2003.
 
The Order required the immediate 'closure' of the premises for the maximum period of three months. During that time entry by unauthorised persons, including the tenant and her associates is not permitted and anyone found so doing will be committing an offence.
 
Within an hour of the Court granting the Order the Housing ASB Team and the Police were at the flat securing the property and bringing an end to the misery that the occupant had inflicted on her neighbours.
 
Cllr Maria Caulfield, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
”The behavior this resident inflicted on her neighbours was unacceptable and this sends out the message that the council will act quickly to root it out.

“We have re-focused how we address nuisance and antisocial behavior as part of the Turning the Tide initiative and are working very closely in partnership with the Partnership Community Safety Team, Sussex Police and other agencies.

“The success of this new working approach is demonstrated by this tremendous outcome which will bring immediate relief to a whole group of residents.”
 
“I hope this case sends out a strong and clear warning that nuisance will not be tolerated in our communities. We will utilize every power available to make our neighborhoods safer for responsible, law abiding members of the community.”
 
Richard Jordan, Senior Antisocial Housing Officer, said:
“The ASB team is wholly committed to acting swiftly and decisively when dealing with serious nuisance in our housing stock. We will not tolerate situations where the behaviour of one household has such a destructive impact on the lives of other residents.”
 
“Obtaining a Closure Order is always an action of last resort, however the council’s housing services will not shy away from taking such action if it is needed. We are committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to deal with anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in Brighton and Hove .”
 
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Jason Hazzard said:
“Since August last year police have been called on numerous occasions to the address. Calls were mainly to do with anti social behaviour such as fighting, shouting, swearing and drunkenness which was significantly impacting on the lives of other residents.
 
“This legislation is a useful tool to the police and local authority in cases such as this. We will take action against those whose behaviour is unacceptable and remove them from locations where they are affecting the lives of others. It sends a clear message that anti social behaviour will not be tolerated in the city and what people can expect if they ignore the law.”
 
Victims of anti-social behavior can contact the Partnership Community Safety Team on 290000.