Couple given three year ASBOs
Date: 3 December 2009 (LS/031)
A couple from Bordesley Green has each been issued with 3 year Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) at Birmingham Magistrates Court today. The Orders bring a welcome end to the two and half years of misery which local residents have been forced to endure as a result of the couple’s alarming and disturbing behaviour.
Thanks to the work of Birmingham Anti-Social Behaviour Officers and West Midlands Police, Kim Owen (31) and Kamram Iqbal (29), of Bromwich Walk are prohibited from verbally abusing, intimidating and harassing anyone in the Bromwich Walk area; using foul language, shouting or screaming at a level which can be heard from outside their property, screaming and fighting in the area around the property (namely Broadway, Bordesley Close and Alum Drive) and discarding rubbish close to the homes of other residents in the area.
Owen, who has a history of prostitution offences, is also prohibited from engaging in lewd conduct, specifically sexual acts, in any public place in or around the locality of Bromwich Walk – including a neighbour’s shed. She is also banned from allowing anyone to wait outside her property for more than five minutes and from having visitors wait in the communal and garden areas outside her neighbour’s properties. Both Owen and Iqbal were also barred from having visitors to their property after 11pm.
Local residents gave evidence in court against the pair, in the hope that their neighbourhood will now be restored to a level of normality. Owen was also prohibited from verbally abusing, intimidating, harassing and threatening six of her neighbours.
In response to the verdict, Cllr Ayoub Khan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said “I’m delighted that local residents will no longer be subjected to this couple’s anti-social behaviour. The neighbours who came forward to support BASBU officers in bringing this case to court must also be commended for their bravery and perseverance and I hope that they will once again be able to enjoy the area in which they live”.
End
Notes to Editors
1. Please contact Lindsey Stubbins 0121 303 2160 for further information.
2. Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are civil orders made in the Magistrates Court that prohibit activity that has caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Breach of an ASBO is a criminal offence punishable by a fine and/or two years youth custody for those under 18 and five years imprisonment for those over 18.
3. Birmingham Anti Social Behaviour Unit (BASBU) is part of Birmingham Community Safety Partnership, a multi-agency partnership that brings together agencies including Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service and others who are all working together for a safer city.
4. BASBU officers aim to address problem behaviour early on through both legal and non-legal remedies, focusing upon prevention strategies wherever possible but going to court as necessary. BASBU also provides support and advice to local housing teams and provides training to council staff and other agencies.
