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Hampshire Police shut out hell Portsmouth neighbour
Police have used powers designed to shut down crack houses to kick a nightmare neighbour out of her home.
Dianne McCafferty yesterday got her marching orders after months of making life a misery for residents in King Albert Street, Landport, Portsmouth.
Hampshire police and council officials swooped on 33-year-old McCafferty's council home at number 49 and boarded it up yesterday after Portsmouth magistrates granted them an order under the antisocial behaviour act.
McCafferty could be jailed if she breaks the order by trying to go back in. The act previously only allowed for homes to be boarded up if there was evidence of Class A drug use or dealing.
But an amendment in December last year extended the powers so they can be used against rowdy residents even where drugs are not involved.
Yesterday's order was the first time the new powers have been used in The News area – but police say it won't be the last.
McCafferty's neighbours kept diaries detailing a catalogue of antisocial behaviour by youths who McCafferty allowed in and out of her home.
They reported loud music day and night, swearing, fighting, under-age drinking, racial abuse, vandalism and abuse shouted at neighbours through their letterboxes.
Youths were also seen walking up and down the street kicking parked cars. Video evidence showed one youth throwing a pool cue over a wall.
Magistrates shut down the house for three months. McCafferty will not return – she has terminated her tenancy of her own accord before the council could consider if she should be allowed back after the closure.
John Simpson, a neighbour from flats situated across the road, gave evidence in court. He said: 'The noise makes it impossible for my partner and I to enjoy our own home. We can't go out on the balcony.
'I get very stressed and upset by the behaviour. My partner tries to calm me down and it can turn into an argument.
'Our lives seem to revolve around these issues.
'My partner and I want to live our lives in peace and not live in this ongoing hell.'
Hampshire Police say they will continue to use the powers where needed.
Detective Jon Snook, sector inspector for Portsmouth Central, said: 'I think it's tremendously important that we use this process.
'It's a last resort when we have looked at all other forms of dealing with the problem.
'It's so important that we can use these powers to safeguard the local community.'
Councillor Jason Fazackarley, cabinet member for community safety said: 'I am satisfied that the appropriate action has been taken in this case to protect our communities that have been suffering horrendous nuisance in recent months.
'On numerous occasions, attempts to engage Dianne McCafferty to resolve these issues and support her has ultimately failed to stop the behaviour.
'Therefore as a local authority we have a duty to tackle and not tolerate this behaviour and have taken the opportunity to use these new powers to close the property.
'This action is not taken lightly, but clearly the behaviour here is unacceptable and we hope this gives a clear message for others in our community that this type of nuisance will not be tolerated.'
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TACKLED
Police across the county will be targeting anti-social behaviour as part of a three-month crackdown.
From today, all 7,000 police officers and civilian staff of Hampshire Constabulary will be involved in a campaign which will see a host of measures being put in place in bid to combat crime.
These will include assessing the levels of graffiti and criminal damage in local neighbourhoods, giving crime prevention advice to local residents, leafleting, special constabulary and volunteer recruitment events and extra police patrols.
Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: 'When we ask the public their concerns, anti-social behaviour always comes out in the top three.
'Most of July, August and September will be spent tackling anti-social behaviour in many ways.
'Every member of staff will, at some time, address these issues. This will be a force-wide pledge.'
He added: 'I am putting more of my team out on patrols in known hotspots during the next three months when historically we see a rise in reported incidents of anti-social behaviour.
'All sections of the force will work as one team during this initiative including police officers and staff who aren't usually involved in frontline policing.
'It is a bit unusual because all 7,000 staff will be spending time addressing this.
'I am not looking to criminalise youngsters but we need to stress that some anti-social behaviour is crime and we want these people arrested.'
At the end of the three-month campaign the results will be evaluated and the tactics that have worked will be continued.
'SCREAMING AND SHOUTING'
John Simpson gave a detailed statement to magistrates which told of the impact Dianne McCafferty had on his life:
'Ever since the current tenant of this address (number 49) moved in there has been sporadic bursts of nuisance and anti-social behaviour. Over the past six months things have worsened significantly, on a daily basis there are up to 20 youths and adults gathered in and around the address, usually drinking alcohol and often screaming and shouting abuse and fighting among themselves. This can start as early as 11am and go on through the night into the early hours.
The tenant herself is often nowhere to be seen whilst these persons unknown are using the address as a free for all. When she is there, she lets all and sundry in and out of the address and is often outside drinking with them. The front door is usually left wide open, but if it is closed, the people just kick it in to gain entry.
The constant noise and disturbance from this address makes it impossible for my partner and I to enjoy our own home.
We are aware that other neighbours feel the same way as us, but are too afraid of the persons involved to make any complaints. My partner and I just want to live our lives in peace and not be subjected to this ongoing hell.'
'THEY INTIMIDATE ME'
Neighbour Kiet Latimer told magistrates:
'Ever since I moved into my flat I have been aware of disturbances emanating from the next door flat. Initially the problem was frequent loud music and late night noise nuisance.
More recently the problems have escalated and whilst there is still frequent loud music, there is now the additional problem of large groups of up to 30 youths and adults gathering at the property on a daily basis. They drink alcohol, shout and swear, and generally intimidate me and the other residents of King Albert Street.
I am now nearly 75 years old and I am in frail health; I use a mobility scooter as I am unable to walk any distance. I have an armed forces background and served many years in the Military Police, I am not easily frightened by any individual or circumstance. However, the aggressive and threatening behaviour displayed by this group has made me too afraid to enter and exit my address using my own front door.'
'WE'VE GOT LIVES TO LIVE'
Neighbours in King Albert Street are now looking forward to a good night's sleep. One, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'It's extremely frustrating. The major factor is that we can't get any sleep. Some people have got to get up for work but if they are partying until 6am we aren't going to get enough sleep.
'It's very intimidating, we can't really go out in the evening. For a lot of us it's a case of keeping our head down.
'It's frustrating when we have got lives to live and things to do.
'It just comes down to a lack of respect – that's the route of all the problems.'
Another said: 'The majority of the neighbours are to scared to speak up. This neighbourhood used to be filled with peaceful elderly people. They play music day and night. She's got two boys and they have lots of friends – there could be 20 of them in the garden.'
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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