Council clean up campaign sees antisocial tenants evicted

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Two antisocial tenants are being evicted as part of Renfrewshire Council's continuing campaign to drive out drug dealers and bad neighbours.

Renfrewshire Council started legal action to evict David Greene (47) and Hazel Devlin (42) of Morar Drive, Foxbar, Paisley following their conviction in November 2007 for breaching an Antisocial Behaviour Order. The order had been granted to protect their neighbours from the pair's incessant noise, loud music and drink fuelled disturbances.

In a separate move last month, Christine Wallace (47) of Tannahill Terrace, Paisley was evicted for allowing her son, Barry Wallace (27), and Sharon Millar (25) to deal diamorphine from her home. Mr Wallace and Ms Millar were caught during Operation Triplicate, a joint crack down by Renfrewshire Council and Strathclyde Police on hard drugs in the community.

Councillor Brian Lawson, convener of Renfrewshire Council's housing and community safety policy board, said: "Sometimes it may seem to neighbours as though it takes time to get action about antisocial behaviour. But the council has to follow a clear legal process before a person can be evicted."

"It's only right that we have to convince a Sheriff that we have a cast-iron case before a person is deprived of their home and getting the evidence can take time. But we do get the evidence and we do take action. We will not tolerate tenants who make their neighbours' lives a misery or help blight their community by letting drug dealers use their home as a base."

In March 2008, Renfrewshire Council scored a legal first by evicting Mrs Ruby Hart from her Darwood Crescent home for allowing her son to use it to sell crack cocaine. In November 2007, heroin dealer Gordon McLaughlin of Gallowhill Court, Paisley was the first council tenant to be evicted as a result of Operation Triplicate.

Press release: Monday 14 April 2008