A new crackdown on “families from hell” terrorising local communities has been launched by Westminster council.
Today it evicted a problem family whose neighbours have suffered physical assaults, dog attacks, drug dealing and intimidation.
It follows a four-day trial involving Tracy Chapman, who lived with her four children in the borough.
The family had a long history of involvement in criminal and anti-social behaviour around their home in Stanfield House in Lisson Grove.
However, council officials said neighbours had been frightened to provide evidence for fear of reprisals.
Recently Prime Minister David Cameron’s “troubled families czar” Louise Casey, who has been tasked with turning around the lives of the 120,000 most dysfunctional families by 2015, called for tougher consequences for repeat offenders.
Westminster’s spokeswoman for children, young people and community protection Nickie Aiken said: “This family pretty well set the gold standard for nightmare neighbour behaviour.
“What our action shows is that people like this can expect to be removed from council properties if they make life hell for the local community.
“Our social housing stock is there for decent people and their families, not for those who believe they can inflict state-subsidised misery on their neighbours with impunity.”
Westminster, which says eviction is a last resort, has pledged to be “fair but firm” with families that consistently cause trouble and refuse help.
