Threat of jail silences neighbours from hell

Date and Time of Publication:- 2008-06-23 10:20:02

Two years of hell for the residents of Norfolk Road in Enfield was finally brought to an end on the 30th May when the private tenant, Ewa Paczkowska, 47, was sentenced to a suspended jail sentence for allowing her family and visitors to cause continual nuisance.

Rallying residents, from left: Jane Richards, Brian Holt, PCSO Sabiha Hassan, Mary Wren and Anne McGilchrist

Since moving into the street in 2006 Paczkowska, her three daughters aged 16, twins aged 12 and son aged 13, plus her frequent visitors, caused misery to her neighbours with a catalogue of anti social behaviour, which included:

• Urinating and vomiting in the street (once on someone’s car)

• Allegations of drugs sales

• Spitting / hocking in the street

• Dumping rubbish / littering

• Harassing / threatening neighbours, the use of aggression and intimidation

• Blocking the pavement so passers by had to cross over

• Going through neighbour’s dustbins

• Screaming, slamming doors at all hours, cars honking horns

• Cars racing up and down the street (once nearly knocking someone over)

Kate Kelly, Anti Social Behaviour Officer takes up the story, she said “We received a petition, signed by Norfolk Road residents in November 2007 asking us for help in stopping the appalling behaviour of this family.

“Working closely in partnership with Ponders End Safer Neighbourhood Team we held a meeting with the Managing Agents who advised that the landlords, Mashood Burahee and Foysol Ahmed, had served a notice of eviction on the family. Unfortunately, this was not the case and caused a delay. There were also problems with court dates and interpreters.”

Residents Jane Richards, Rebecca Cruickshank, Mary Wren, Anne McGilchrist and Brian Holt teamed up with local PCSO Sabiha Hassan to tackle the menace, Mary said “It wasn’t like a family had moved in, more like a whole community. Sometimes 30 men would be standing outside the front, they were frightening and intimidating.”

Brian added “They used to go through our black sacks and charity bags that were left out for collection, and leave the clothes they didn’t want on the pavement like rubbish. But the vomiting was the worst thing, one day one of them actually vomited on my disabled ramp. I

even saw someone squat down and relieve themselves in the middle of the street on a lovely sunny day, it was revolting.”

Residents were issued with log sheets to record all incidents, and evidence was gathered, including photographs, dates and times of all incidents.

There was little Christmas cheer for residents as on the 14th December 2007 an interim injunction order was gained by Enfield Council's legal services to stop Paczkowska causing a nuisance, but it was breached almost immediately.

After 8 breaches of the interim injunction were proven Ewa Packowska was found guilty at Edmonton County Court on the 30th May 2008. She received a sentence of 3 months imprisonment suspended for 6 months and a full injunction order with a power of arrest was granted for a further year.

Since this time there have been no further complaints from the residents.

Cllr Matthew Laban, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety said, “This case shows how, even when anti social behaviour is being caused by a private tenant, and the landlord is being unhelpful, action can be taken by the Council. It is just a shame that Messers Burahee and Ahmed could not have sorted out this problem more quickly and saved months of anguish and costs to Enfield residents.

"I would like to pay tribute to Rebecca Cruickshank and all the other residents of Norfolk Road who provided evidence and attended court.

“It would have been so easy to have given up when the going got tough, but these residents didn’t. They worked in assisting the Ponders End Safer Neighbourhood Team and the council’s Anti Social Behaviour Team to successfully secure a conviction. Without them it would never have been possible.

“This is an excellent example of joint agency working in partnership with residents. “

A/PS Steve Hodgson, Anti-Social Behaviour Manager said “Thanks to the courage and determination of the residents of Norfolk Road years of misery have been brought to an end.

“We are delighted that we were able to help them out of what was a very intimidating situation, and would urge any other residents in a similar situation to contact the Anti Social Behaviour Team, and to not suffer in silence.”

Jane has advice for any residents facing a similar problem, she said “If you are suffering from anti social behaviour in your street, speak to your neighbours, work as a community, draw people together, and let the Community Safety Team know about it.

“Enfield Council have been great, especially Kate Kelly. The Judge was also firmly on our side.

“At the moment the Paczkowska’s are keeping a low profile, lets hope it stays that way.”

If you wish to report anti social neighbours call Enfield Council’s Anti Social Behaviour Line on 020 8379 4612.

Date and Time of Publication:- 2008-06-23 10:20:02

This document was last updated on 2008-06-23 10:20:02 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_132939