Neighbours on a housing estate blighted by drugs and anti-social behaviour have told councillors that they have “had enough” as they submitted a petition.
The petition, signed by 75 Craven Vale residents, said that the situation for people on the east Brighton estate was “unbearable”, with people using guns and knives.
Craven Vale Residents’ Association secretary Alan Cooke presented the petition to the council’s Housing Committee on Wednesday 16 November.
It said that Brighton and Hove City Council would be held “directly responsible” if people were injured.
The petition said that residents had been shot at and dead animals had been found on the estate “full of bullet holes”.
Mr Cooke said that people from the estate were receiving medical treatment because of the crime and anti-social behaviour.
He set out eight demands
- Stringent background checks and records kept up to date within legal limits stated by the government.
- Make sure the victims and the people impacted by anti-social behaviour and crime are put first in all situations and keep them up to date with information and the steps going forward.
- Stop rehousing repeat offenders of anti-social behaviour, crime and drug dealing.
- Deal with any incidents swiftly, even if there is only one victim reporting, as others might be too fearful to report.
- Instead of trying to move the victims of anti-social behaviour and crime, you should be looking at removing the perpetrator away from the situation to avoid impact on more residents. This should be written up in their contract before moving into a property.
- Anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime should be firmly recorded on all council systems effectively and connected to the perpetrator involved
- At present, the ASB department deals with both perpetrators and victims. We believe there should be two teams, one representing victims.
- Changes should be made quickly and swiftly as promised at community safety meetings held in Craven Vale.
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Mr Cooke said: “The council is enabling the perpetrators to continue their behaviour and reinforcing this by still rehoming them after an eviction.
“Residents believe that the council is either aware of the history of these people or that staff are failing to do proper background checks.
“This year, four well-known drug dealers and users of drugs were moved into Craven Vale by the council. They all knew each other and instantly formed a drug ring involving ‘county lines’.
“We were told there were no known problems with a man put into a sensitive let property, having been housed by the council for four years elsewhere.
“However, an article some two years ago in the Mirror newspaper and in local newspapers gave his full name and his admittance of drug taking.
“We are shocked this information was not recorded and kept on the council’s system because all of this information is readily available on Google.
“Within eight weeks, this man was smashing windows, breaking through front doors and wielding a knife on the estate in broad daylight.
“Contrary to the council’s belief, there is no legal duty of care to house these perpetrators of drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and crime.
Why hasn’t the perpetrator been named? It’s wrong when data protection trumps the personal safety of others.
Have lived in Craven Road for 16 years and so not recognise any of the hair raising quotes used in this article. Yet to see any of the guns or knifes mentioned. Do see families young and old walking there dogs. It appears that they don’t as do I don’t find the area ‘unbearable’ and dont live in fear.’
Im sure some do, living in a city it not for every one.
The real story is how slow the council are to act. The councils unwilling or unable to work inter department and with the police to resolve anti social problems in The area. It is a shame that Craven vale association has chosen to rubbish the area in the press to get the council pull there fingers out and do some thing.
Wish Sarah Booker Lewis had write this story and not the huge exaggeration above that does not represent the area I live in.
At least a more realistic headline with out the gun and knife photo that was in the same article in the Argus.