What kind of justice is this?

[sandyRoe]

A parent, probably the mother, of a youth convicted of rioting has been served with an eviction notice. Since when was the concept of collective punishment part of English law?

http://uk.news.yahoo....on-notice-served.html

[boxtops]

This was mentioned on the news last night - apparently if families/people are convicted of subversive behaviour, their contract for housing with the councils is breached and they can be evicted.

[craft1948]

Apparently it is in the terms of their lease, that anyone convicted of a criminal offence cannot remain a tenant.

[sandyRoe]

The child wasn't the tenant. The mother is being punished for something she didn't do.

[cc1]

Let's hope they can make it stick and parents will start being parents and not good mates.

[horseshoes]

It's about time it was I think. Make the parents responsible for their offspring. I'm all for hitting them in their pockets too. There are thousands and thousands of unpaid fines in this country. Get in their houses and confiscate their blackberries and wide screen TV's to the value of. It's high time this country got tough - really tough and if that's what it takes.....

[craft1948]

okay sandy perhaps not the tenant..............basically they won't have criminal little sh!ts in their houses.

[micmak]

But if they are evicted, some council or other will have to house them.

[sandyRoe]

Wandsworth Council would evict them and then have a statutory duty to house them.
This makes a good headline but the chances of it actually happening are slim to zero.

[hc4361]

There is no duty to rehouse in a house though. Many are housed in B&Bs and the like.

[chrissa1]

If the parents run the risk of losing their homes, it might make them question where their little darlings are at night and what they are getting up to.

[sandyRoe]

Imagine 'the little darling' was a 15 year old who stood 6' tall. How would a single mother control him?

[sir.prize]

She should have started educating him when he was 2ft tall. It is their collective neglect which has put them in this situation. Scum begats scum. They have forfeited the right to have subsidised housing. Force them to seek rented accommodation in the private sector - if anyone will have them.

[sandyRoe]

To have the misfortune to be related to a rioter doesn't seem reason enough to me for the tenant to be evicted. If it actually happens this will make a few lawyers a lot of money. The council won't be paying it out of their pockets.

[Prudie]

"The mother is being punished for something she didn't do" yes what she didn't do was bring her son up to behave as a responsible member of society.

[hc4361]

It's no different to a private tenant being evicted because of the children playing up and making the neighbours lives a misery. Except every rate payer (sorry, council tax payer) is subsidising the council tenant, even when they pay full rent and don't rely on housing benefit.

[The-Toff-]

Agree 100% with sir.prize.

[mike11111]

I have to agree with Sandy. There must be many decent parents who have tried yet failed to control their wayward offspring.

[ummmm]

I agree with Sandy. There are parents who have turned their kids in after seeing them on telly. Parents who brought their kids up to know better.

Kids get caught up in it...they follow the leaders. Peer pressure as such.

[tamborine]

Where are the family expected to stay, cardboard boxes in shop doorways ?