Council tenant convicted of racial abuse

Date:  24 August 2005

Racism in the district will not be tolerated - that was the message from Three Rivers District Council last week as a tenant was convicted of racial abuse with physical assault against a member of Council staff.

At Hemel Hempstead Magistrates Court on 16 August, Mr Norman King of Rosehill Gardens, Abbots Langley was convicted of racially aggravated abuse with physical assault, bound over to keep the peace for 12 months, fined and ordered to pay costs.

The conviction also represented a breach of Mr King's tenancy agreement, which states that verbal or physical abuse of Council staff will not be tolerated. The Council is now pursuing a possession order against Mr King's Council property.

Councillor Roger Seabourne, Community Safety portfolio holder, said:

"Racial abuse against staff or other tenants is a very serious matter indeed and the Council did not hesitate to take action against the tenant concerned. Three Rivers District Council will not tolerate abuse of any kind towards members of staff or tenants and we hope that this criminal conviction serves as a warning to others. Relations between tenants and with Council staff are generally good; however we will take all action necessary against anyone who abuses them."