Threat to evict antisocial tenants

this summer’s riots in England have sparked a national debate about tackling antisocial behaviour and instilling strong morals in future generations.

While Edinburgh has experienced none of the mayhem seen south of the Border, antisocial behaviour has rarely been out of the spotlight in the Capital.

In one of the most shocking recent incidents, residents in a block of flats off Easter Road told last week of the nightmare of regular violence and vandalism they faced from their “house of horrors” neighbours. While firefighters were earlier stunned to find youths running amock in Muirhouse continue to strip a derelict building of valuable scrap metal as it burned.

City council officials, at the prompting of Labour councillor Bill Cook, are exploring how steps such as enforcing council house tenancy agreements more rigidly could help make a difference.