HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope is quoted (LET, September 10) as stating that he demands Hyndburn Council use their powers under civil law to crack down on nuisance neighbours. Either Mr Pope hasn't thought about what he said, not done any homework, or is simply passing the blame.

As a resident and also a local government officer (not with Hyndburn Council), with no particular political affiliation, I feel strongly about his accusation, that Hyndburn Council are doing little to solve the problem of unruly tenants.

He needs to look at his party's own implementation of anti-social policy. It's not working effectively or quickly enough through the judicial system. Judges have an indifferent approach when cases are presented to them.

Yes, it is true that hard evidence is required to evict troublesome tenants, but, invariably, complainants are reluctant to come forward due to fear of recrimination. Therefore, Mr Pope, through his colleague Home Secretary Jack Straw, should be supporting local government in impressing on judges as to the integrity of evidence provided by council officers alone.

Who can blame good tenants for informing on anti-social unsociable neighbours for fear of retaliation? The councils' evidence should be sufficient!

Mr Straw's anti-social behaviour orders are not a quick-fix measure and, in the meantime, the culprits are creating mayhem on our estates, knowing full well they may eventually be evicted.

We need a quicker and more effective means of dealing with these so-called scum and Mr Pope should not be passing the buck!

A HYNDBURN RESIDENT (Name and address received).

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