Clause 16 - Proceedings for possession:
Anti-social Behaviour Bill
6:15 pm
Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling, Labour)
I rise to comment on the amendments, especially the Liberal Democrat amendments Nos. 236 and 148. Before I do so, it is fair to say in relation to amendment No. 148 that of course we must consider various options such as support for families with problems.
There is a gaping hole in public policy in this area. Many of us know that our communities are blighted by small numbers of families who cause mayhem way beyond their number. I can quote anecdotal examples of areas that have almost been transformed after one or two families have been moved on. We may talk about the rights of individual families and tenants, and it is right to do so because there is always a balance to be struck between individual rights and the general rights of the community, but we must recognise that they are often at the expense of the rights and interests of all the other families in that area.
In my area, the process never reaches an end. I have talked to many other hon. Members, and I am sure that that is also the case in their areas. Agency after agency becomes involved with particular families but nothing ever happens, so those families believe that there are never any consequences as a result of their actions. They never believe that they will be evicted, because often the local authority will not take them to court. The local authority will not take them to court because the courts will not give possession to the local authority for the reason that the hon. Member for Ludlow gave—they are concerned about the consequences for the children.
What we then get is a problem family causing mayhem in an area. The individual family's needs and those of the children are not met, and the local authority is unwilling and unable to take the family to court. It knows that it will end in failure as the court will not want to put the kids on the street.