BURNLEY Council is cracking down on anti-social tenants who make life a misery for their neighbours.

The council says 'a significant number' of problem tenants have already been removed from their council homes as part of a get-tough policy introduced with the help of police.

Some have been as a result of court action where evictions have been granted on the grounds of serious breaches of the tenancy agreement and others have been convicted of criminal offences.

In other cases, tenants have voluntarily given up their council house tenancies before cases have reached court.

Several people whose cases stemmed from the police anti-drugs operation codenamed Canberra surrendered their tenancies before the council started legal proceedings.

Operation Canberra in May was directed at drug trafficking and related offences and led to 63 arrests many of whom have already been dealt with by the courts and received custodial sentences.

Burnley Council has signalled its intentions to act forcefully in dealing with nuisance on the council estates.

Under the Safer Estates Agreement signed two years ago the council works closely with police to tackle the problem of neighbour nuisance.

The Crime and Disorder Act provides new powers from April, 1999, extending the council's ability to tackle anti social behaviour.

Sergeant Jim Masterman, community sergeant for South West Burnley, said: "We are working with the council and community to make Burnley a safer place."

Housing chairman Coun Rafique Malik added: "For far too long residents on council estates have had to put up with behaviour from from a very small minority which was simply unacceptable.

"We are making a stand to let them enjoy their lives in peace.

"Recent action by the council and the police is the first proof that we mean business."

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