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Zero tolerance is the message
Wednesday 26th March 2008
The message Council members and local residents in Ludworth is for zero tolerance with anti social behaviour as two applications for injunctions against Michael Kell and Damien Trattles were agreed in County Court last week.
Deputy Leader and local ward councillor, Carol Woods said today,"Both these people are former residents of Ludworth and since leaving the area they have been returning with a group of other young people and creating absolute havoc in the village - drinking, criminal damage, throwing fireworks at houses - it's been just awful for the local community."
In conjunction with the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (and particularly PC Steve Barrow and Sgt. Dave Turner of Durham Constabulary), the City's Tenancy Enforcement Officer and legal section began gathering evidence to use in the applications to County Court. The culmination was a successful result for the local residents.
The injunctions in both cases prevent Michael Kell and Damien Trattles (who were considered to be the ringleaders of the group) from engaging in conduct capable causing nuisance or annoyance to any person. They are also excluded from Ludworth. A power of arrest has been attached which means that if they breach the order, the Police can immediately arrest them and return them to the Court for sentencing for contempt of court.
Cllr Woods added,"I would like to stress the important role that the local community of Ludworth played in achieving this outcome. It is clear that the conduct of this gang finally pushed people to breaking point. Although they did not attend court, they were willing to put their names to witness statements. Without this evidence, our legal team would have been much less confident of the outcome and I think that we have to give credit where it is due.
"The most important point about these two cases is what can happen when the community comes together and says 'enough is enough'". I would like to encourage more people to come forward if they live in areas plagued by anti social behaviour and they can do this confidentially.
"There is no reason why a minority group of people should be allowed to cause misery for the majority of people living in an area. We should promote zero tolerance across the whole district of Durham; it is simply not acceptable so let's stamp it out."