South Ayrshire Council News

South Ayrshire Council has obtained a decree for eviction against one of their tenants who was convicted at Ayr Sheriff Court for being in possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.

Any Council tenant who is convicted of this type of offence is in breach of their Council Tenancy Conditions and may be evicted.

In a joint statement Councillor Margaret Toner, Depute Leader of the Council and Chair of the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership and Councillor Tom Slider, Chair of the Housing Panel said: “Working in partnership Strathclyde Police and Officers from the Council’s Housing section and the Antisocial Behaviour Team are using a process to enable them to evict convicted drug dealers from Council houses.

“Every case will be looked at on its own merits, but where the Council consider it is in the best interests of other tenants, whose lives can be made a misery by people dealing in drugs they will take action. Antisocial behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated by the Council.”

Information is passed by Strathclyde Police to the Antisocial Behaviour Team and the Housing section every month highlighting certain offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act committed by any Council tenant.

This information is then provided to the relevant Housing Offices and an interview is arranged with the tenant, a member of the Antisocial Behaviour Team and a Police Officer. The situation is discussed and the tenant advised of possible action that could be taken if there is a subsequent conviction.

A case discussion involving all relevant agencies will be held before the Council take proceedings to evict anyone.

Chief Inspector Peter McCarroll of Strathclyde Police said: “This is yet another example of effective partnership working between Strathclyde Police and South Ayrshire Council. I welcome this decision as there can be few things more odious examples of antisocial behaviour than drug dealing, given the impact it has on the recipients of the drugs and the community in which the dealers reside.”