Action On Anti-Social Behaviour Closes Crack House

Cllr. Patrick Vernon

In a triumph for my policy of stamping out anti-social behaviour in Hackney (see It's That Time Again), Haggerston’s most infamous geriatric "nuisance resident" Nihal Fernando (175) was summonsed back to Shoreditch County Court last week to explain why he had breached the court’s earlier order to vacate his "right-to-buy" home with immediate effect. The original case, spearheaded by Councillor Laying and the Hackney ALMO team was somewhat cruelly described in the satirical magazine Private Eye as "a unique and innovative solution to bring anti-social behaviour to an end." We brought the case after receiving 147 complaints from neighbours of discarded needles, used condoms, visiting prostitutes and drug taking at Fernando’s property on the Regents Estate.

The "Haggerston Horror" was also found guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in August 2004 of fraudulently claiming housing benefit and income support, while drawing undeclared expenses as a councillor for Queensbridge ward.

I hope this case sends out a clear message to all South Hackney councillors that they cannot do what they want and get away with it. When it comes to out-of-line Queensbridge councillors - whether Labour, LibDem or Conservative - we will take determined action to stamp them out, along with the anti-social behaviour that blights our community and makes other councillors’ lives a misery.