‘Councils should evict families of criminals’
42-year-old was attacked with cricket bat in street hours after his partner reported theft to police
THE families of violent criminals and gang leaders should lose their council houses as a deterrent against crime, a minister says today.
Victoria Atkins, a Home Office minister, says criminals who blight their communities should be evicted from local authority housing so they “understand the consequences” of their actions. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Ms Atkins becomes the first minister publicly to endorse a scheme employing the tactic in north London.
Asked whether she supported the scheme, Ms Atkins said the Government had “changed the law to enable it to happen”. She said: “In the most serious cases, with these people who are exploiting young people, making the lives of local residents a misery, putting fear into people’s hearts when they’re picking children up from the school gates, I think absolutely they should understand the consequences of their criminal behaviour.”
Crime has become a key issue on the political agenda, with knives and moped gangs afflicting London, which has seen nearly 1,300 stabbings since January. Police have blamed budget cuts for not being able to respond to crimes such as burglary and theft. Yesterday it emerged a father of four was beaten to death when confronting bike thieves after they were reported to the police.
In her interview, Ms Atkins acknowledged that the rising crime rate was “very worrying” and suggested that parents should check their kitchen drawers and count the number of knives to ensure their children were not using them as weapons.
She endorsed the north London eviction trial, which operates in an area where at least 14 gangs compete for space. It involves social workers, police, NHS staff and counsellors working with young people aged between 10 and 24 who are in gangs or at risk of being drawn into them.
The project relies on changes in the law introduced in 2014 in the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, which gives this power to landlords – including councils – in England and Wales as a result of serious and violent criminal activity. It came after a public outcry following the London riots of 2011 and the anti-social incidents that followed.
Supt Nick Davies, police commander of London central north, has previously said the tactic of warning gang members that their families will be evicted if they continue their violence is working. Many live with their families in central London social housing, for which there are long waiting lists.
Being kicked out would entail finding alternative rented accommodation in the more expensive private sector. Experts say the impact on family mem- bers, particularly single mothers, is one of the strongest deterrents they have.
Ministers are considering new ways to prevent young people getting involved in violence. Ms Atkins said: “We want to intervene at an earlier stage and prevent them getting into these criminal gangs and criminality in the first place.”
A FATHER-OF-FOUR was allegedly beaten to death with a cricket bat when he confronted suspected bike thieves hours after the matter was reported to the police.
Derek Whyteside, 42, died two days after being found unconscious in a pool of blood in the street close to his home in Telford, Shropshire.
The former factory worker, who was originally from Cumbernauld, near Glasgow, was allegedly attacked when he attempted to retrieve the stolen bikes from two teenage suspects.
The incident took place on Monday afternoon, hours after Michelle Wilson, Mr Whyteside’s partner, noticed that two of their children’s bicycles had disappeared from outside their home.
She reported the matter to West Mercia Police at 11.45am, but after examining CCTV spotted footage of the alleged theft taking place.
Ms Wilson then posted the footage on Facebook, asking for the public’s help to identify the suspects.
A police spokesman refused to confirm whether any officers had been dispatched to deal with the original theft report.
It is thought Mr Whyteside later attempted to confront the suspects after a member of the public identified them, but was allegedly injured during an ensuing argument.
He was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford before being airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he died in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Speaking at their home Ms Wilson said: “I’m completely heartbroken.”
Paying tribute in a statement, Mr Whyteside’s family said: “Derek was a nice guy, he was lovable and could always see the best in people and if he considered you a friend he would strive never to let you down. He would always be there for you and was very proud of his extended family.
“He was a fab dad to his partner’s children, very protective, cheeky and loving and always meant well.
“He was Michelle’s world and was so good to her. He was a great brother too.”
A neighbour said: “Derek was a wonderful dad, completely devoted to his family. What looks to have happened is he found out somehow who took his kids’ bikes, tried to get them back and was battered to death for his troubles.
“It’s absolutely terrifying to think he was killed. No one deserves to be left to die in the street. Michelle and the kids are in absolute bits. It’s a ... nightmare. Everyone round here is appalled and very angry about what has happened.”
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was charged with murdering Mr Whyteside and appeared before Kidderminster magistrates’ court on Thursday. He was remanded in custody.
West Mercia Police confirmed that
‘No one deserves to be left to die in the street. Michelle and the kids are in absolute bits’
two people had been arrested in connection with the bicycle thefts.
Two men arrested in connection with the attack have been released on police bail and a woman and two other teenage boys have been released under investigation.
Police moved to reassure residents by putting on extra patrols in the area close to where the victim died.
Supt Tom Harding said: “Incidents of this nature have a significant impact on our local communities and I will ensure we have officers in the local area over the coming days to offer reassurance to local residents.
“Anyone who is concerned can speak to an officer on patrol or call us.
“We are working tirelessly to help make our communities even safer and we will continue to work with our partner agencies to ensure we do this.
“I would like to reinforce my commitment to making sure we tackle violent crime and that our local communities can go about their daily lives without fear of crime.”