Covert operation leads to three arrests

Published by Julie H for Viridian Housing in Housing and also in Communities

The anti-social behaviour team at Viridian Housing have been working closely with the Fairfield Safer Neighbourhood Team to tackle the long running anti-social behaviour problems at Agnes Court (on the St John’s Estate, Wandsworth) leading to three arrests following a police raid on a Viridian owned property. 

Residents had been complaining for years of youths congregating in the main lobby to the block and dealing / consuming drugs, vandalism through graffiti, damage and intimidation.

Our Resident Service Inspectors had been very critical of the condition of the lobby area at Agnes court. In a 12 month period they re-inspected the areas and found that it had deteriorated despite repair and repainting works, which tended to last a matter of weeks before they were exposed to new damage or graffiti.

 There was reluctance from residents to provide detailed information so we deployed a covert CCTV installation earlier in the year but it was detected and 'professionally' removed.  

 The raid represented the culmination of months of Viridian working in partnership with the local police team which included regular review meetings, Viridian procuring 'manned surveillance', frequent police patrols of the estate and the use of stop and search actions to deter and disrupt the drug dealing activity.

 The three arrests for possession of drugs and a number of other offences are just the start in the tough stance we are taking on anti-social behaviour.

Alex Wrigley, senior ASB officer at Viridian says “We have spent a lot of time identifying the perpetrators of the ASB and will be using a range of legal remedies in order to bring these individuals to justice.

This includes starting the eviction process for any residents in Agnes Court who have either themselves, members of their household or visitors been identified as causing anti-social behaviour. We will also be taking action to ban the perpetrators from the areas affected”