Police and council enforcers have put an end to noise misery from two York flats by seizing stereos and speakers.
The officers also removed TVs and other items which had been played at unbearable volume night and day.
They acted after repeated warnings and formal notices were ignored by the people responsible.
Related
It followed complaints about the volume and frequency of music at two households in two blocks of apartments in the Westfield ward.
The noise was so loud they were disturbed night and day. It left them unable to work from home during the pandemic, watch TV in the evening – or even sleep in their beds at night.
Working with the victims, council officers gathered evidence of the anti-social behaviour.
Noise recording equipment provided evidence of nine incidents of serious noise nuisance going on for hours at a time over a five-day period. The perpetrator listened to TV music channels at full blast.
Court action
After the households ignored other approaches, the council applied for warrants from York Magistrates Court. Officers from City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police seized stereos, speakers, TVs and other items from the flats.
Councillor Denise Craghill, executive member for safer communities, said: “This is an example of persistent and excessively loud noise nuisance, which shows a complete disregard for others.
“It is unacceptable and made worse during the pandemic when many people have had to spend more time at home. Such anti-social activity can seriously impact on people’s wellbeing and I welcome this decisive action ahead of ASB Awareness Week (19-23 July).
“Following repeated advice and warnings being ignored, the council has seized the equipment used to create the nuisance.
“This has been done to end this anti-social behaviour and to give local residents respite from the stress of not being able to escape unacceptable levels of noise.”
Unreasonable noise can be reported to the council’s Neighbourhood Enforcement Team on 01904 551555 or [email protected], Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm and Friday and Saturday, 9pm in the evening to 3am the following morning.