ASBIs to protect Richard Moss House residents
Three people have been served with 10-year Anti Social Behaviour Injunctions for causing nuisance and annoyance to elderly residents at a Winchester sheltered housing scheme.
The ASBIs are believed to equal the longest injunctions served anywhere in the country.
Winchester City Council acted after receiving complaints about the behaviour of visitors to one of the residents of Richard Moss House - a sheltered housing scheme for Council tenants aged 60 or older.
Council Officers attended a residents meeting at Richard Moss House to listen to concerns regarding the frequency and behaviour of groups of visitors to the property. The residents were clearly frightened and intimidated by these individuals and listed various complaints. These included the visitors' washing their dirty clothes in the communal laundry, messing the communal toilets, urinating in the communal hall way, ringing residents' doorbells in the early hours, noise nuisance and suspected drug use.
Within a week the Council attended Southampton County Court to obtain anti-social behaviour injunctions on three named individuals of no fixed abode and 'other members of the associated group'.
They are: Colleen Laverty (27), Tanya Winters (25), and Michael Laverty (date of birth unknown by us or police).
The injunctions prevent the individuals from visiting Richard Moss House and order that they do not cause a nuisance or annoyance to residents, visitors or any individuals carrying out lawful activity in the vicinity of Richard Moss House. The injunctions, which have a power of arrest attached, expire in 2017.
Bee Derrick, Scheme Manager at Richard Moss House, said: "It is unfortunate to have to take such drastic action in order to ensure peace of mind for everyone living at Richard Moss House. However, one resident was repeatedly allowing people into the building who had no real business to be there, a situation that gave rise to serious concerns both for the security of premises and the well-being of other residents."
One resident commented, "The speed with which Winchester City Council reacted to a difficult and sensitive situation was commendable and I am sure that everyone living here is pleased with the outcome."
Richard Botham, Winchester City Council's Head of Housing Landlord Services, added: "Our residents are entitled to live in a safe and secure environment and we sought the injunctions to protect them. We will always act to address anti-social behaviour."
Notes
Despite the ASBI date of March 1 it took some weeks for the injunctions to be served on the individuals involved. This was because they were of no fixed abode and were difficult for the police to track down.
Since the ASBIs were served there has been no recurrence of the previous problems experienced by residents.