Family Evicted

25 February 2010

To the relief of residents and after two years of dedicated work by Wycombe District Council and its partners in the Public Safety Team, Miss Carol Duff of Hawthorne Road, High Wycombe was evicted from her council house this morning.

The Duff family's eviction was the result of persistent breaches of the tenancy conditions and proven breaches of a Postponed Possession Order caused by anti-social behaviour, including: noise nuisance, shouting, screaming, swearing, using abusive language and fighting.

Since July 2008 the tenant had received various warnings but with the tenant failing to take responsibility for the behaviour of the persons living at the property or her visitors, the Council had no alternative but to begin the process which resulted in today's eviction.

Commenting on the eviction, the Council's Cabinet Member for Homes and Housing Chris Watson said: "this is a huge success shared between Thames Valley Police and the Council. With it, we send the clear message that anti social behaviour is not acceptable. But above all it has to be a success for the residents whose lives must have become a living nightmare."

PC Neil Elliot, Neighbourhood Specialist Officer, said: "The eviction of Carol Duff and her family demonstrates the close working between Thames Valley Police, Wycombe District Council and the communities we serve. Everyone deserves the right to live in peace and without fear and the Community Safety Partnership is always working to achieve that for the people of Wycombe. If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood, don't wait for someone else to report it, tell us and we can start to make a difference."

Today's eviction was the second Wycombe District Council eviction for anti-social behaviour since 1 January 2009.