Housing workers today claimed a major success in cracking down on nuisance neighbours in York.

They told how a string of bad neighbours have faced eviction and other court action in a tough squeeze on bad behaviour on the city's council estates.

And they revealed that plans are afoot which could extend the crackdown to bring nuisance neighbours from private homes before the courts.

Officers stressed the proposals to extend York's Tenancy Enforcement Team to the private sector are still in their infancy.

Members of the City of York Council's Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour will be told it will cost £70,000 to employ an additional enforcement officer to deal with antisocial behaviour involving private sector residents.

The report, being presented to the working group, shows the progress of the housing service in dealing with antisocial behaviour, and details complaints made over the past year in order of the most common. There were:

* 90 complaints of noise

* 37 complaints of threatening behaviour

* 44 complaints of problems with children or youths

* 17 complaints involving drugs

* 12 complaints relating to parking issues

* 22 complaints about the condition of homes

* 10 complaints concerning animals

* four complaints of racial harassment

* four complaints covering mental health issues

* six other complaints.

In total there were 257 complaints of antisocial behaviour made between April 2000 and April 2001.

These complaints resulted in more than 30 court appearances and the police were involved in 56 of the cases.

The Tenancy Enforcement Team, which deals with the most serious complaints, now has a caseload of 26 cases. So far eviction orders have been made in three cases and injunctions constraining the behaviour of tenants have been obtained in eight cases. Four anti-social behaviour orders have been obtained and there are a further six applications pending.

The council's Working Group on Anti-social Behaviour meets on Tuesday.

Updated: 15:42 Wednesday, May 02, 2001