Ex-convicts told: Behave or face eviction

Criminals and their families face eviction from their homes within days of being released from prison in a fresh legal assault on neighbours from hell.

The Metropolitan Police have teamed up with one of London’s biggest landlords to test fast-track legislation which bypasses lengthy eviction battles.

Tenants convicted of criminal offences are being served with Suspended Possession Orders as soon as they have been released from jail. Any breach of the order’s “good behaviour” conditions can lead to an eviction order within days. The new powers will prevent lengthy delays associated with evicting known criminals.

The approach has been piloted on the Stonebridge Park Estate in Harlesden, where three orders were served last month by Hyde housing association. It plans to adopt the strategy across the capital, where it has 15,000 homes.

The orders are typically used to evict families who are unable to keep up with their mortgage payments on private homes. Their use as a short-cut to eviction in criminal cases has raised concern among homelessness charities. Met Superintendent Simon Rose said: “The consequences for this small minority may be more than they bargained for. Their choice is an easy one: change your ways or face the consequences.”

Nazir Hafezjee, Hyde’s head of housing for London North, said he believes tough action will break down a wall of silence on estates where residents fear reporting unruly neighbours who consider themselves beyond the law.

He said: “We hope that taking strong action against those involved with anti-social behaviour will send a definite message that it will not be tolerated. We will not allow a small minority of residents to affect the lives of the majority.”

Sergeant Mark Kelly, of Stonebridge Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “These orders are valuable tools in our attempts to stop criminal and anti-social behaviour. They give tenants, family members and occupants the opportunity to stop their criminal or anti-social behaviour or face the consequences. If the orders are not complied with, then eviction orders can be applied for within days rather than months.”