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Call to kick out drug dealers
by Stewart Paterson - Evening Times
TOUGH new action is needed to help landlords rid communities of convicted drug dealers, according to a Glasgow MSP.
Patricia Ferguson, Maryhill MSP, has called on Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to investigate setting up special courts to speed up evictions after concerns from housing associations.
She said half of the social landlords in her constituency told her they had experienced problems evicting convicted dealers.
The problem, they said, is it takes six months on average to convict a dealer, then another six before an eviction request reaches court.
By then if there has been no evidence of further dealing, they have found sheriffs are often reluctant to grant the eviction.
Ms Ferguson said: "People don't just want drug dealers convicted, but they want them out of their communities."
She has suggested a special drug court or housing court to deal with the problem, which also affects efforts to deal with people convicted of antisocial behaviour.
The MSP has asked Mr MacAskill to investigate the matter and is to write to him with her concerns and ideas.
But Mr MacAskill snubbed the offer of a meeting and suggested it might be the responsibility of the housing minister.
Social landlords have been active in attempting to evict dealers since legislation allowed them.
Since January 2007, Glasgow Housing Association evicted around 50 drug dealers and plans to carry out more, with two cases pending this week.
Last year Renfrewshire Council, who have developed a campaign against drugs dealers in communities, evicted nine people from council homes following convictions.
Ms Ferguson believes many more could be targeted and wants to ensure landlords are able to secure evictions much quicker to avoid families living in fear, when those they may have given evidence against return as neighbours.