Anti-social behaviour legislation sought for NI

The outgoing Chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has called on the Government to introduce Anti-social behaviour legislation in Northern Ireland.

Commenting in the Housing Executive's 32nd Annual Report, Sid McDowell said that while many "neighbourhoods are stable and predominantly mixed tenure providing for the most part, safe and healthy environments" there were others which were continually experiencing "problems with drugs and anti-social behaviour".

He added: "We owe it to residents of those neighbourhoods to change things for the better. In the rest of the UK Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have become an important tool in tackling the problem and they should be available in Northern Ireland.

"Regardless of whether they are tenants or homeowners everyone has the right to live in a decent home free from fear. We cannot let the thuggish behaviour of a few wreak havoc on the lives of many.

"People expect all cases of anti social behaviour to be tackled effectively. ASBOs are only used as a last resort and where all other avenues have failed; they tackle the worst cases by pinpointing the people who are guilty of persistent anti social behaviour.”

Among the other points raised in the Report, Mr McDowell revealed that the Housing Executive had invested over £260m in the local economy this year and sold a record 5,991 homes to sitting tenants.

“The Housing Executive has always sought the common good. Working together with our partners the Housing Executive will continue to make a real difference in our community," he concluded.

(MB)