In certain areas of this estate many residents' lives are being affected on a daily basis by the presence of a small element of people who rely for their existence on illegal drugs.
Over the next few months the ICA will be continuing our efforts in encouraging the Police and City Council to do what it can to eliminate this disease from our lives.
During a meeting last week which included representatives from the Police and City Council I asked the question 'if you where taking an illegal substance behind closed doors that this was acceptable.
Both parties stated that it was their policy to accept this as it was causing no harm at the time except that of the person taking the substances. As it is I can understand this argument to an extent that is if the person in question was working and paying for his recreational drug to help him relax there perhaps is no great damage done.
I then pointed out to them that they appeared to be condoning an illegal act, as it was clearly against the law (S 5(2) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971) and if they were a Council Tenant they have not to use their house for immoral or illegal purposes.
The problem with the police's and City Councils position is that they only have the one policy; I believe that this position is flawed and exceptions must be made. On this estate we have people who have never worked for many a year and are sitting behind their closed doors injecting themselves and taking illegal substances and then going out when you and I are asleep exhausted after a hard days work and robbing us of our hard earned possessions.
There are people on this estate who are spending anything up to and £400 per week and more if pickings are good. They only survive by stealing or handling stolen goods buying 'stones' and cutting them for resale...
Over the coming months the ICA will be pressurising the police to catch these people and prosecute them and then pressurising the City Council to take their homes of them if they are Council Tenants. Do not feel sorry for them they have had chance after chance to change their ways, we can not go on forever talking about 'what about their human rights' attitude. There can be only one policy and that is 'catch them and kick them out'
Most residents on this estate will probably never been bothered or even realise that drugs are an issue but there are small areas that are over run by these undesirables so whatever your situation is please support your neighbour and complete this questionnaire and return. You may well think that if you do not have a problem why bother! The reason is that it will high light the areas that are.
As an Association we can name probably all the problem houses but for the reassurance programme the police to have all the residents input and the solutions and innovated tactics are well documented for the Home Office.
Come on lets all say enough is enough and get rid of these people who are holding down the full recovery of this 'your' estate.
Bill
McGrath
For and on behalf of Ingol residents.
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to: the part we played
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This
type of letter sent to families creating serious antisocial behaviour,
we had no confidence in Preston City Council taking any action whatsoever.
Antisocial behaviour came well down on the list, certainly well
below that of the collection of rent. |
 Ingol
Community Association42 Creswell Avenue Ingol Preston PR2 3XP Telephone 722347 - 722097 Email mcgrathedd@aol.con Web page: ingolcommunityassociation.org.uk Ingol Mrs Re: Disturbance Wednesday 11th February 2004
It has been brought to the Community Associations attention that on Wednesday 11th February at around about 2.00 o'clock, that yourself along with Mr *** caused distress to the residents of Barry Avenue. This distress was caused when you and Mr *** behaved in an antisocial manner in a public place. The Community Association was formed last August with a mandate from the residents to pursue a policy to eliminate this type of antisocial behaviour which has detrimental effects on their lives. I must point out that the Community Association has no legal powers, but acts as a voice for the residents, it has the ability to apply pressure on the City Council to be more active in its control over its tenants who do not comply with their Tenancy Agreement. I have enclosed a copy of the relevant paragraphs from the Tenants Tenancy agreement that refer to antisocial behaviour. Your behaviour was totally unacceptable to all the residents and has been reported to the police who have raised a 'log' number for the incident; it has also been report to the Housing department. This Association will be seeking assurances from Mr *** of the Housing Department that this instance of antisocial behaviour is kept on their records for future reference. Yours sincerely
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Letter regarding drinking in front gardens or sitting on garden walls. It may seem petty to attempt to stop this type of behaviour, but in nearly all cases the antisocial behaviour soon leads to serious problems. As soon as some one starts to drink they are invariably joined by others, we have had as many as 15 people drinking and creating a nuisance. They seem to be oblivious to other residents no one dares to approach them - until now! |
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Ingol Community Association 42 Creswell Avenue Ingol Preston PR2 3XP Tel. 722097 - 732767
3rd May 2004 Re: Drinking on Barry Avenue.
During the course of the day I have had 4 complaints from concerned residents regarding you and your friends drinking alcohol sat on the garden wall and front garden at ** Barry Avenue. As an association we have no legal powers but are the voice of the residents of the estate who have been empowered us to bring the estate back to the level of behaviour that is acceptable to all. We appreciate that this is a long term project and must involve all parties, it is for this reason I am writing to you personally. As a reasonable person that I know you are, I am asking for your co-operation in deceasing in your drinking, when either sitting on the walls or in the front garden. On this estate there a families with small children through to teenagers, who are easily influenced by the actions of the grown ups who are a role model for these chidren. I am sure you will understand and I look forward to your co-operation. I have enclosed a copy of the relevant paragraphs from the Tenancy Agreement for your perusal. Regards |
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following documents are part of a campaign to raise the awareness
of the impotance of upto date intelligence that the police need to
help fight the drug situation within the estate. It is proposed initially
to mail drop 2 roads and then to go through the estate road by road
on a weekly basis until we have covered the whole estate. Once this
is comple we will start from the beginning with a follow up letter
which will encourage more residents to take part.
LETTER TO ALL RESIDENTS
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Ingol
Community Association
77 Barry Avenue Ingol Preston PR2 3XP Telephone 01772 722097 Email mcgrathedd@aol.com Web Site: ingolcommunityassociation.org.uk WE NEED YOUR HELP Dear Resident During the next few months the Ingol Community Association who are working closely with the Police and Preston City Council Housing, will be asking for your help. The majority of residents on the estate are hard working, law abiding citizens who wish to make this estate a better community. Unfortunately in certain areas of the estate there is a very small minority of people who are making the lives of some residents a misery. In your area you know who they are, we certainly do, this minority are not beyond stealing or handling stolen goods to ensure they gain sufficient money to obtain drugs to feed their habit. There are those people who supply drugs to others on this estate who make a profit in making peoples lives a misery. We can name almost every one who is in this circle or supplying the network whether it is stealing to feed their habit, handling stolen goods or just dealing to feed their own personal habit. The worst kind, are those people who supply drugs to others on this estate putting profit before other people's misery. We know who they are, if you live within an area where these people are active, you will almost certainly be able to recognise who they are. There are those who are just plain and simply antisocial in their behaviour, we need as much intelligence on this type of behaviour as well, if you have been intimidated by any of the above we need to know about that also, every bit of information you can give however small could be of benefit. We, as a Community Association, are looking at the possibility that if any prosecutions arise for any of the above offences, (where applicable), that they are dealt with appropriately under the terms of their tenancy agreements and removed from the estate. With your help and co-operation this will be the beginning of the end of these antisocial misfits. What we now need is good local intelligence to finalise the ending of the sordid trade on the estate, the enclosed document explains the ways that you can help and what we need to know. There is no need for you to put a name to any information that you pass over is you don't want to. Yours sincerely Bill McGrath |
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Redcar
Avenue - Urgent appeal
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Ingol Community Association 42 Creswell Avenue Ingol Preston PR2 3XP Telephone - 722097 Email mcgrathedd@aol.com Web page: ingolcommunityassociation.org.uk
The statistics for the Associations area which are published within this newsletter shows that although the crime and antisocial reports to the police are down on previous years, the one area that shows an increase in problems is the Redcar Avenue and surrounding area. The ICA has been actively working with the police for the past 3 years on the Barry Avenue estate with good results. As Redcar Avenue and surrounding area is now is part of our organisation we intend with all residents help to rid this area of the antisocial and drug element who are creating problems for law abiding residents. Many residents have been reporting to the police and logging antisocial activities, we thank you for this, but to be successful we need many more people to be reporting even the smallest of disturbances. We aim to target the houses that are creating problems with their drug related antisocial behaviour. Many of you who have to put up with these people will know exactly which houses we are targeting, its time they changed their ways or left. If you read the article in the newsletter regarding the recent ASBO (Anti Social Behaviour Order) you will realise that every small piece of information that you report is useful. Reporting 40 or 50 small pieces of information which you might at the time seem insignificant, can easily equal an ASBO. Report all nuisance, report anything however small that you feel is drug related. If someone is banging on certain doors at all hours shouting, if people are who you think are linked or likely linked to drugs are calling at certain houses at all hours report to the police, ALL information is important. We have a saying "if you don't report it - it hasn't happened" If you want to make a report without leaving your name and address then ring Crimestopper on 0800 555 111 You will not be asked your name or address in fact if you try to give your name and address, Crimestoppers have been know not to take your information as they would expect you to contact the local police. This has happened to a number of our members. Crimestoppers of course will want to know the address and names of persons involved if you know them. You can ring the police on 203203 giving your information, again you do not need to leave your name and address if you do not want to, don't forget to ask for a log number. If you want to start making reports and do not want to use either of these agencies, perhaps you would like to contact the ICA on 722097. Bill or Gordon will be there to assist you, if they are not available please leave a message and we will ring you back, if you so wish. Remember you are no longer alone, we are here to help you get rid of this scourge from your neighbourhood, we will not be intimidated, together we will return your neighbourhood to the law abiding residents. It would be helpful to us if you do have problems with certain address's, please contact us and let us know so we can help target these addresses by other means at our disposal. Remember you need to continue reporting with a vengeance ICA Committee Bill McGrath Gordon Wang Kay Wang Marie Hardinge Tom Anderson Margaret Mills Tracy Jackson Teresa Duncan Gary Pierpoint Steve Wareing Elaine Catt Sheila Newton Eric Newton Norma Kelly Maria Knight Joanne Swarbrick |
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