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Pimlico 'neighbours from hell' evicted
A Pimlico mother and son who plagued neighbours with intimidating and antisocial behaviour have been evicted and had their home boarded up.
Nearby residents said they lived in fear of the woman and her 16 year-old son who allegedly sold and smoked drugs from the flat, played loud music and allowed their dog to bark continually, dropped litter, spat at people and urinated in public places.
Westminster Council and the police successfully applied for a premises closure order for a flat in Pimlico, after receiving more than 500 complaints over several years from neighbours.
The closure order was granted at City of London Magistrates Court on Wednesday and is the first such order to be used against a family including a young person in Westminster.
The flat has now been boarded up and it is expected the social landlord responsible for the property, will apply to regain control over the flat to rent it out to someone else.
Cllr Daniel Astaire, Westminster Council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "These were neighbours from hell who blighted the lives of ordinary, peaceful and law-abiding people who lived nearby. No one should be afraid to walk through the hallway to their home or stand outside their front door but this was the case in Pimlico.
"These people showed a complete lack of respect for their neighbours and despite numerous visits from support workers and police to try and deal with their unruly behaviour they consistently failed to take any notice.
"I hope this drastic action sends a stark warning to other people and families who think they will be 'kept' by the state when they deliberately and persistently cause distress to others.
"While very much a last resort, we are not afraid to use powers open to the council to prevent people suffering from the scourge of others' anti-social behaviour."
Sgt Alan Sweetman, from Churchill Gardens Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: "This was a last course of action for us, we had no choice but to use this new legislation to protect the quality of life for other residents in the area.
"We had received numerous complaints about anti-social behaviour in and around the flat and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents who helped us by coming forward with information which we could use to support the closure order.
"I hope this shows how committed we are towards listening to the local community and addressing their concerns."
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