Cracking down on those making lives a misery

Oct 9 2008 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

LANARKSHIRE’S noise police have probed almost 2000 complaints from angry neighbours over the past year.

Officers from North and South Lanarkshire council’s Anti-Social Task Force teams have investigated no fewer than 1944 cases of anti-social behaviour from April 1, 2007, to March 31 this year.

A Freedom of Information request submitted to South and North Lanarkshire councils showed people are being driven to despair by selfish neighbours – and the number of complaints is steadily increasing.

Soaring numbers of people are complaining about noise, gangs, racial harassment,harassment, unruly children, violence, vandalism and drugs.

South Lanarkshire Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit investigated 472 cases between April 1, 2007 and March 31 this year.

They issued 164 verbal warnings and a further 231 written warnings to people in a bid to stop them making a racket.

The council said the information recorded was not broken down by category.

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour to ensure that our communities are safe and attractive.

“We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour and will challenge the minority of residents whose behaviour impacts on others in the community. “

Anyone who is affected by anti-social behaviour can contact the council at any local Q&A office, via their website at www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk or by telephoning free on 0800 3891105.

In neighbouring North Lanarkshire, they investigated 1000 more complaints than their counterparts in South Lanarkshire.

Thye council’s Anti-Social Task Force received 1472 complaints from April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008.

They issued 319 warning over the same period.

The complaints related to noise (923), gangs (11), racial harassment (25), children (58), violence (46) vandalism (49), drugs (12) and others (52).

A North Lanarkshire Council spokesman said the government’s advertising campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour had led to a rise in complaints over the last few years.

Matt Costello, of North Lanarkshire Council’s Anti-Social Task Force (ASTF), said they treat all complaints of anti-social behaviour seriously - and tackling the problem is one of the council’s top priorities.

“We will continue to use all available means for early intervention in order to address the serious issues of this problem,” he said.

“Any council tenant with an anti-social behaviour complaint should contact their local housing office in the first instance.

“Tenants of housing associations should contact their landlord direct.

“Other residents, such as owner-occupiers, should contact the ASTF direct for advice and assistance.

“People are issued with diary sheets and advised to use these to record incidents of ASB - this information helps along with other aspects of investigation to build up a case against those causing problems.

“ASB will not be tolerated and the council and it's partners will use all means available to tackle it.

“Those suffering from ASB are encouraged to reportcomplaints to the relevantorganisations to allow themto be investigated appropriately.”