A taste of their own medicine: Neighbours from hell get early morning warnings to mend their ways... or face the boot from the estates they terrorise

Police in Tyne and Wear burst in to 22 homes to deliver rude awakening

The tenants had received shameful series of complaints from neighbours

20 were handed notices telling them they have one last chance to change

One pensioner said: 'It's been a nightmare living next to them'

Rude awakening: A man answers the door in his dressing gown as police in Tyne and Wear deliver early morning warnings to nightmare neighbours

They are the neighbours from hell known for their noisy parties, screaming arguments and anti-social behaviour.



But this time they were the ones getting a rude awakening.



Police in Tyne and Wear burst in to a series of homes in the early hours of yesterday morning to deliver final warnings or eviction notices.



Officers visited 22 homes in Wallsend to tell tenants - many dressed in pyjamas and dressing gowns - that they face being booted out if they do not mend their ways.



All the tenants had racked up a shameful series of complaints from those living around them fed up by their noise, anti-social behaviour, music, loud arguments.

After issuing a number of warnings, staff from North Tyneside Council's Safer Estates Team served 20 tenants with legal notices giving them one last chance to change before losing their homes.

And two were handed eviction notices telling them court proceedings would soon be started to kick them out.



The action was taken as part of a joint police and council initiative called Operation Respect.



North Tyneside council's safer estates manager, Colin Boxshall, said: 'Operation Respect involves serving nuisance households with final warning notices. If the anti-social behaviour continues people risk being evicted.'



Crimes linked to the properties included drunk and disorderly, theft, criminal damage, breach of the peace, drug offences, threatening behaviour, intimidation, noise nuisance and shoplifting.



O ne man who lives next door to a block where three households were served with notices said his neighbours were making life a misery for him.

The pensioner said: 'It's been a nightmare living next to them. There are parties and noise going on until about 3am in the morning, and people keep breaking the door in.

'I'm really glad something is being done.'

Scroll down for video



Serving notices: A woman is handed a notice by police as a crackdown on noisy neighbours is launched in Tyne and Wear

Police and council officials visited 22 homes in Wallsend to tell tenants, many dressed in pyjamas and dressing gowns, that they face being booted out if they do not mend their ways

Among the 16 people visited, eight were also asked to sign Acceptable Behaviour Agreements. A mother was also given an eviction order because of her out-of-control son's behaviour. The 12-year-old had received repeated warning from police for terrorising a local vicar, jumping out in front of his car, and throwing fireworks. Inspector Neil Armsworth, of Northumbria Police , said it was essential that residents report anti-social behaviour to police so that his officers can take action. And he explained that eviction warnings were a better deterrent than arrests on some cases. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

1

Next Drug dealer who hid loaded gun in a box of Cheerios on top... Drugs courier supplied heroin to grandmother who hid her... Share this article Share 'It's particularly impactive that the other residents in the street that have to put up with the people see something being done,' he said. 'Quite often these people are involved in low level crime but on a regular basis, and this can be more impactive on people's everyday lives than a more serious crime that is a one off. 'Northumbria Police is committed to addressing the issues that are affecting our communities, be it crime or anti-social behaviour related. Crimes linked to the properties included drunk and disorderly, theft, criminal damage, breach of the peace, drug offences, threatening behaviour, intimidation, noise nuisance and shoplifting

Inspector Neil Armsworth, of Northumbria Police, said it was essential that residents report anti-social behaviour to police so that his officers can take action Crackdown: North Tyneside council's safer estates manager, Colin Boxshall (centre), serving notices

'Behaviour of this description is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

'We will continue to work together with partners in North Tyneside Council to take enforcement action against anyone whose behaviour is having a detrimental affect on the community.

'I would absolutely encourage people to report anti-social behaviour to us because we won't know about it if they don't tell us.'

'North Tyneside's elected mayor Norma Redfearn added: 'We are committed to ensuring North Tyneside is a safe and enjoyable place to live and we will not allow the minority to spoil it.

'Everyone should feel safe and happy in their homes and neighbourhoods, and we will take necessary and prompt action to protect that right.