Maryhill MSP Calls For Quicker Action To Evict Drug Dealers
March 30th, 2009 | by Site Admin |
Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Maryhill, has called on the Scottish Government to review the process through which landlords can secure an eviction as a result of drug dealing and asked to meet a Government Minister to discuss the issue.
Speaking in Parliament the Labour MSP highlighted the delays experienced in securing the conviction and eviction of drug dealers, which can often take a year to obtain. She went on to ask the SNP’s Justice Minister to meet with her to discuss the issue, and was disappointed that he failed to agree to a meeting.
Ms Ferguson questioned the Minister on the current system which leaves local communities living in fear, whilst convicted drug-dealers can remain in the premises from which they committed their crime.
Patricia Ferguson MSP said:
“The current system is letting down local communities. It can take 6 months to secure the conviction of a drug-dealer and only then can a landlord seek eviction, which can take a further 6 months. Throughout this time local residents must live next to the dealer who, in many cases, they have reported to the police. This does nothing to encourage community co-operation in the crack down on drug-dealing.
“That’s why I am calling on the SNP Government to review the current arrangements in order to make it quicker to evict tenants from a property where drug dealing has taken place.
“I asked the Justice Minister to meet me to discuss my concerns and I am disappointed that he didn’t agree to this. I will be pursuing this matter with the Scottish Government and hope they will take action to help rid our communities of drug-dealers.”
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