Published: Friday 06th May 2016 | 1.24pm
Cannock Chase Council officers supported by Staffordshire Police have executed a warrant to seize noise making equipment from an address in Cannock this week.
The Council property resident had failed to heed warnings from Housing Officers to reduce the excessive volume at which they played music.
Following further investigations the Council was satisfied that the noise was excessive and a Noise Abatement Notice was served on the resident in March.
Further incidents of noise nuisance, both during the day and night, were reported by local residents after the Notice was served. Investigations confirmed that noise levels continued to give rise to a statutory nuisance, as officers who were repeatedly called out to the address also witnessed noise from the loud amplified music that could be heard well before they entered the property, leaving little doubt that it was causing a nuisance and in breach of the Notice.
When a Noise Abatement Notice, served in relation by noise from amplified music is breached, the Council’s approach is to remove the offender’s capacity to cause the nuisance by seizing the equipment he or she is using.
Officers successfully obtained a warrant from Cannock Magistrates Court to enter the property and seized equipment which included; 2 TVs, 2 stereo systems, 2 DVD players, a sky box, a Playstation2 and two loudspeakers.
The equipment will be held by the Council for a minimum of 28 days and may be destroyed if the offender is convicted of causing a nuisance. This ‘short sharp shock’ approach, adopted by many Councils across the country, has been found to be a useful tool to tackle persistent offenders and bring them to their senses.
Steve Shilvock, Head of Environmental Health said: “Most people show consideration to their neighbours with regard to any noise they make. However, there are some individuals who don’t show such consideration and the Council and its partners will try and persuade these people to behave more responsibly. If they don’t, the Council has a range of legal powers at its disposal including, obtaining a Magistrates Court warrant, to seize whatever equipment is making the noise. Cannock Chase Council will always take appropriate action to deal with noise nuisance.”
This case was highlighted at the Community Safety Hub, a multi-agency group which convenes every week to address short term crime and disorder issues in the District, using partner agency expertise and resources.
The Council would encourage residents to consider their neighbours when listening to music or engaging in other activities that may impact on them, as failure to do so may result in formal enforcement action by officers.