Disgusting drinkers intimidate residents

8:06am Saturday 17th May 2008

Comments (3)   Have your say »

A "disgusting and "intimidating" group of five drinkers who indulge in antisocial behaviour are blighting a Hendon street.

Lager-fuelled rants and urinating in stairwells are just some of the activities cited by residents who live near Sentinel Square, off Brent Street, where the gang of up to five men congregate.

Jane Murphy, from the Belle Vue estate, said: "It's absolutely disgusting and people have to walk past and see it all.

"The smell is terrible and we have to clean up their mess and it's just going to get worse over the summer."

She said there were no locks on the entrance to her block of flats and the men have started coming into the building from the street.

"It just annoys me that they are leaving rubbish everywhere. It's shameless and they are laughing in our face," she added.

Hayley Shaw, who works in a mobile phone shop in the square, is sometimes too scared to go outside.

"I find them quite intimidating and have to get my boss to move them away if they are hanging about near our back door," she said.

"I don't like to go out because they are dirty and noisy and always walking around outside."

Barnet Homes, which manages the estate, urged residents to report any incidents to the police, to enable them to act. A spokeswoman said: "We will not tolerate people causing nuisance on estates and will take action in partnership with the police to prevent it.

"We are working with the police at present and would urge all residents to report any incidents or evidence they have, so we can take legal action against these perpetrators."

Hendon MP Andrew Dismore has already contacted the police and Barnet Homes about the issue.

He said: "It is pretty unpleasant to have it on their estate.

"It has become antisocial and I can understand the cause for concern because it is not the sort of thing you expect to be happening outside your home."