Anti-social behaviour (ASB) can make you feel miserable in your own home and isn’t acceptable, that is why we take it so seriously. This month Torus, working in partnership with Police, has successfully obtained a Closure Order for a property in Liverpool due to ASB which had been causing misery for the local communities.

Following 11-months of hard work, a three-month Closure Order has been secured at an address in the Mossley Hill area, Liverpool, due to persistent ASB and criminal activity, with the tenants causing concerns to the community, despite threats of eviction, including regular disturbances of shouting, threats of violence, swearing, harassment of other residents, criminal damage, and nuisance related to substance use.

Torus Safer Estates Officers worked tirelessly with the support from Merseyside Police, as well as Stronger and Safer Communities in LLC, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and local councillors to achieve this outcome for the community, supporting the application by providing witness statements, followed by serving a Notice on the tenant with a view to commencing possession proceedings.

Since issues were first reported, Torus has repeatedly challenged the tenants about their behaviours, issuing several tenancy warnings, utilising a range of ASB tools such as Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, making offers of support services and referrals, whilst supporting other residents.

Closure Orders states the house be closed in accordance with the ASB Crime and Policing Act. If anyone is found on the premises unlawfully during the period of the Closure Order they render themselves liable to arrest.

UPDATE 26 APRIL 2023: The Police returned to court, where the Closure Order was extended for three months.

Scott Cooke, Torus Service Lead Safer Estates, said:

“We believe everyone has the right to live how they want to – as long as they don’t spoil the quality of life of others. We expect our customers to consider and respect their neighbours and community. That’s why we take anti-social behaviour (ASB) seriously.

Getting a Closure Order is a great result, and we hope that closing these properties and preventing visitors will provide some respite to the neighbours and the community as a whole and allows them to go about their daily lives without fear, anxiety, noise, fighting and shouting.

It has been a great example of communities, Torus and the Police working together, and I would like to thank everyone involved, including local residents and the support from the Police has been exceptional.

We will now be looking to serve an NSP, a notice to seek possession of the property and commence our own legal proceedings against the tenants.”

If you or someone you know is suffering because of anti-social behaviour (ASB), tell us. Our teams are on hand to lend their support, find out more about support available and how to report here.