Council successful in legal action following case of cuckooing

Published: Tuesday 21 December 2021

A court injunction has successfully been granted following joint work between the Council and police. 

The injunction bans two named individuals from entering Campden Houses after they were found to be dealing drugs from a vulnerable resident’s property. The resident sadly passed away and the individual tried to claim succession of the property with the Council. This was refused and legal action was launched with the help of the police. The injunction granted by the court also comes with a power of arrest should the named individuals attempt to break any of the conditions of the order. 

Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith, Lead Member for Grenfell, Housing and Social Investment, said: 

“Individuals taking advantage of elderly or vulnerable residents, and using their home as a place to commit or facilitate crime, is completely unacceptable. Working together with the local community and the police, we can ensure we look out for one another and stop this type of behaviour from happening. If you think anything like this could be happening in your building or on your estate, please don’t hesitate to raise your concerns with a member of the anti-social behaviour team.” 

This is the fifth court order achieved by the Council, after earlier cases in the summer. 

A recent community safety survey found that 72 per cent of residents in Kensington and Chelsea felt safe during the day, with this falling to around 32 per cent who felt safe at night. Since 2020, the Council has invested more than £500,000 in new CCTV, employed a dedicated community wardens service, and recruited a new team to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) occurring specifically on Council estates. 

If you are a Council tenant or leaseholder, please report any ASB concerns to 0800 137 111 or email [email protected]