DRUG DEALERS WILL LOSE COUNCIL HOMES

Suspected drug dealers will be turned over to the police by housing
officials under a pilot scheme aimed at evicting those who supply
illegal substances from council houses.

The pilot scheme in two of Edinburgh's most notorious areas,
Burdiehouse and Southhouse, means dealers and their families will be
evicted and struck off the housing lists.

Recent raids in the housing estates, and across the city, led to more
than 80 people being arrested. Nearly all are awaiting court
appearances.

Housing officials are introducing a formal procedure that will allow
officials to pass on any allegations of criminal activities to Lothian
and Borders Police.

Tenants are being warned if they are convicted of drugs dealing from
their council houses they and their families will automatically face
eviction.

The City of Edinburgh Council says it has the authority to evict
tenants convicted of a crime, though it does not often use the power.

The new policy is tougher and assumes that anyone caught selling drugs
is making themselves "intentionally homeless" by breaking its rules.
One council official said yesterday there would be safeguards.
"Obviously we will do everything we can to re-house children and
elderly people ... but if a person is convicted the council has no
legal requirement to re-home them."

Donald Anderson, a councillor whose ward includes the two housing
estates targeted by the new policy, welcomed the move. It would send a
strong message to the dealers that they were no longer wanted.

"Most people living in housing schemes are decent and law-abiding and
they want the drugs dealers out. The move towards more co-operation
means the housing department is able to act on information given to
them by concerned tenants by letting the police know. And if that ends
in a conviction drugs dealers will then be booted out of their homes."

Residents in Burdiehouse said they hoped the move would end the daily
sight of people streaming into the homes of known dealers for a fix.

One woman said: "Everyone knows who the dealers are but nothing is
ever done about it."

Checked-by: derek rea