| Sheriff Grant McCulloch has granted a closure order against William Hamilton (50) and Annora Cosgrove (51), of 6A Huntly Road, in Craigie, after months of trouble at the property left local residents scared to leave their own homes.
The problems at the flat — which is in an otherwise quiet residential neighbourhood and close to a sheltered housing complex — persisted, despite repeated efforts by the local authority’s anti-social behaviour team and Tayside Police to engineer a solution.
The order, granted yesterday, bans the couple from the flat for three months.
It is the sixth such order granted in the city in the past year.
Dundee’s divisional police commander, Chief Superintendent Colin McCashey, said, “The failure of the two residents to acknowledge and deal with their unacceptable behaviour has led us to this decision.
“A closure order is not something that we seek lightly, but the fact that the everyday lives of other residents will benefit leaves us satisfied with this decision.
“Everyone, whether living in council or housing association property or privately-owned homes, has a right to live in relative peace and quiet.
“To ensure this, Tayside Police will use all available legislation so that the rights of the community at large are upheld.
“No one should have to live with the threat or fear of criminal or anti-social behaviour and we will take action against people who, through their actions or behaviour, make others suffer.”
Ch Supt McCashey continued, “Despite repeated efforts to try and make these individuals aware their behaviour was unacceptable, it was apparent they were not prepared to change their ways.
“Other residents in the area have had to endure a range of incidents over a long period of time and it was for their sakes we took this action.
“Closure orders are a last resort, but this decision will provide long-suffering residents with some respite and the chance to restore peace and quiet to their lives.
“In the meantime, Tayside Police, Dundee City Council and others will strive to find a satisfactory, long-term solution.”
Dundee City Council housing convener Councillor George Regan said it was right the lives of law-abiding people were not impinged upon by an anti-social element.
He said, “We welcome the decision to grant a closure order in this case.
“The effectiveness of the council’s anti-social behaviour team has again been demonstrated.
“The council works closely with the police and other agencies to tackle this type of behaviour that is completely unacceptable to the vast majority of decent, law-abiding people who deserve the right to live peacefully in our communities.” |
