MP says families 'in fear' of antisocial behaviour

MP says families 'in fear' of antisocial behaviour

Just now

Anttoni James Numminen

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Residents living near emergency accommodation in Scarborough say they can no longer use their gardens, open their windows or have family visit because of alleged antisocial behaviour.

Speaking in Parliament, Alison Hume, Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said people living near these sites had been left feeling "anxiety, frustration and fear".

Jo Coles, North Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime, acknowledged that while the number of antisocial behaviour incidents in the area had recently reduced there were still serious issues to tackle.

Hume said one resident, Brian Witty, had told her: "I can't have my grandchildren over because of the foul language and cannabis use."

She said Witty had told her: "It's making my life a complete misery.

"My cameras are going off all night with people mooching about drinking, taking drugs, alcohol and fighting."

Hume said another constituent had explained that incidents were taking place "every single day on the streets surrounding these properties, not just sporadically".

They had added: "We can't use our garden anymore. We can't even leave our windows open on hot days because of the noise and the smell."

'Complete misery'

Raising the issue during a Parliamentary debate on antisocial behaviour, Hume said the problems were increasingly concentrated around a small number of town-centre properties used for emergency temporary accommodation.

She stressed that she did not oppose housing vulnerable people in the town, but said Scarborough was carrying a disproportionate burden compared with the rest of North Yorkshire.

The MP told ministers: "To be clear, I do not oppose emergency accommodation being located in Scarborough, but we are seeing an over-concentration in one town out of a large county."

According to theLocal Democracy Reporting Service LDRS, she said that of 103 people recently placed in emergency accommodation across North Yorkshire, 58 were being housed in Scarborough.

A nine-person House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) was thenrefused in Scarborough earlier this yearover its "unacceptable" impact.

Hume said: "We do not mind taking our share, but does the Minister agree that, although vulnerable people deserve safe accommodation, the communities that host them deserve fairness too?"

The MP also claimed guests staying with another accommodation provider had asked for refunds after experiencing disruption during their visit.

However, she said conditions had improved after concerns were raised with operators.

"I am pleased to say that meaningful improvements, such as 24-hour on-site security, have been made," she told MPs.

"Although the challenges remain, those measures have begun to make a positive difference."

Responding for the government, Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said antisocial behaviour was "not a low-level problem" and highlighted new powers introduced through the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

Official figures show antisocial behaviour in North Yorkshire Police's coastal command area had fallen by 13% over the past two years.

At a meting last month Coles said she had been working with partners throughout the summer to address concerns in coastal communities, bringing together police, local authorities, youth justice services and other agencies.

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