Forum Topic

Persistent Offender - what would you do?

For some time now I have been reporting someone who litters the street with empty beer cans which add up to a dozen or so by the end of the day.This person is an alcoholic and is obviously not permitted to drink alcohol indoors. We have had various problems since the 'Care In The Community' home was located nearby, not just with this one resident.I accept that this person has a problem but surely this is unfair to other residents in the street? We now have the street littered with empty beer cans on a daily basis. There is other anti-social behaviour associated with the same person.A suggestion has been made that the owner of the 'Care Home' should take some responsibility, maybe allow the empty beer cans to be left in a green box inside the front garden, but no - instead we have them dumped in the street!Apparently not much can be done because of the alcohol problems the resident has, but this is getting beyond a joke.What on earth can one do in this situation to solve the matter?

Jean F Fernandez ● 4862d19 Comments

Perhaps onn answer is to provide a bin. Just by the door of the Care home maybe?

Maire Lowe ● 4861d

I would talk to the Care Home again and insist that they find a solution.  We understand the poor man has a problem, but it shouldn't be at the cost of everyone else.  I wouldn't approach the man concerned.  If the Care Home then doesn't try to solve the issue, perhaps getting the Council involved - although as a last resort I'd tell the Care Home that's what I was going to do.After all, if my child, when younger, had dropped a wrapper or food, I would pick it up for her - this man is unwell, so someone should be taking care of him and his litter.  He can't.

Angela White ● 4861d

I agree Angela - that's what I would do too.

Sara Nathan ● 4861d

Thanks for your response.The care home owner is aware of the situation. All he did was speak to the offender more than once to advise that the Council could impose a fine of up to £1,000. Nothing happened!The Council is also aware of the person. An Environment Officer has spoken to the offender. Apparently even the Police had a word because of dropping empty beer cans, but all to no avail.I have been told that even if this person was put in the dock the judge would never fine them. Of course it is obvious that there is a serious problem with the resident being an alcoholic, I would have thought that the owner of the property would ensure that the cans are correctly disposed of.Why doesn't the person use the litter bins in the street for goodness sake.  When the problem arose originally I actually requested that they stop throwing cans in the gutter, I thought the message got through - obviously not.There are green boxes inside the property concerned - I just wish the culprit would use them.Actually the care home should take better care of the residents, they are well paid to do the job. As mentioned there have been problems in the past. The neighbours had no idea that the house was being used for this purpose until the problems arose.I am hoping that the Council will come up with some answers but nothing is happening so far and I am fed up reporting problems again and again.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4861d

Keep on reporting it, Jean.  I am all for individuals taking responsibility for themselves and not nanny-nursing people in our society but I do feel this man has a problem - he probably cannot care for himself well, so I doubt he is capable of caring for his environment.  I would continue to speak to the Care Home - it is their responsibility, surely?  Good luck.

Angela White ● 4861d

Thanks Angela, obviously I do sppreciate that this person has a problem with alcohol, perhaps more, but I just wish the care home owner would try to find a way to dispose of the empty beer cans instead of littering the street.I shall keep on reportng but it does become rather frustrating.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4861d

Yeah, know the feeling.  As if you haven't got better things to do.  I think though, if you keep on, you'll get a permanent solution if you hang in there, rather than a temporary one or no solution at all!  Good luck and thanks for being so vigilant for Acton.

Angela White ● 4861d

I'd pick up the cans and deposit them on the frontage of the property concerned.

Dee Cook ● 4861d

I thought about that too Dee but I am not sure.My husband said if he sees the owner of the care home he will ask him to provide a green box within the front garden for the sole purpose of allowing the resident to deposit empty beer cans within.This morning I counted 8 empty beer cans in our street already!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4861d

I think your husband's idea is a good one and if they don't comply then I think my husband would definitely do what Dee is suggesting.  Infact he's done that on many occasions!

Angela White ● 4861d

I have written to the Council again this morning in the hope that they can find a solution to this ongoing problem.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4861d

It would seem to me that it is the responsibility of the care home owner to pick up the litter. You've said the owner has spoken to the person depositing the cans in the wrong place but hasn't got through to him. So, then the owner should clean up around his/her property.

Audrey Walton ● 4860d

Upon reflection it would appear that this person is not residing in a right accommodation.He needs to be in hospital receiving detox treatment for an obvious severe addiction - in order to stop his unsocial behaviour.I would suspect that the Social Services people are not doing their job properly in this case.

Dee Cook ● 4860d

I believe at least 1 other neighbour made a complaint to SociaL Services regarding this 'Care Home' in the past, and I do agree that this person would probably benefit if moved to a different location for treatment.All I can do is continue to report on the antisocial behaviour and hope that someone will act to help this person, for help they truly need.Care in the community does not seem to be working in this case.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4860d

Would it be worth rallying your immediate neighbours to see if you can get more support/start some kind of petition? You don't mention which road the care home is on, there may be other people who are quietly getting as annoyed as you.

Sophie Lenain ● 4852d

I did not mention the name of the road on purpose.My husband had a word with the person who owns the 'care home' and he sort of shrugged his shoulders saying there was not much else he could do as he has repeatedly spoken to the man. He was stopped and spoke to by Police apparently but to no avail.Yes, some neighbours have been concerned for a long time now about the residents living in this 'care home' because of incidents in the past. Sadly some do not wish to get involved, perhaps they think they are interferring. It is this sort of reasoning that allows situations to develop, if no-one speaks out.Actually, one lady telephoned Social Services who were most unhelpful apparently. They said there is nothing they can do unless they have the name of the gentleman who is causing the current problem. How on earth do they expect neighbours to have this information to hand?Another chap living there walks around the streets picking up cigarette buts. The care home residents could perhaps benefit for more one to one care but Social Services are just not interested. If someone runs a care home one would think that they would actually CARE about those in their charge but from what we see this is in question.I wonder if the problem happened in their street would they feel any different about the situation?All I can do is continue to report but obviously if I do this on a daily basis my report may well be ignored so it is not an easy problemto resolve.The poor folk in this care home obviously have all sorts of personal problems but the way I see it is that those probloems are not being addressed.Coming back to the antisocial behaviour, at the very least one would have thought that the care home owner would arrange for empty beer cans to be collected from the street and placed in a green box instead of littering the place on a daily basis.Why the man cannot just throw his cans in a bin in the street is anyone's guess!I am still hoping that someone from the Council will figure out a way to resolve this matter.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4852d

You should also consider that getting rid of one irritating habit that you find annoying may be replaced with another that you'll find worse.Care homes tend to be like the hospitals running? with the minimum number of staff working ridiculously long hours.

Philippa Bond ● 4852d

Rather than just supplying a bin the answer might be to provide a can crusher and bin and give him a useful job to do.

Philippa Bond ● 4852d

This 'care in the community home' is just in a private house, not a huge place.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4851d