Social Service Shake-Up Ordered Over Neighbour Case
THURROCK Council has promised a wide-ranging shake-up in its social services department after a catalogue of blunders led to clashes between antisocial neighbours and vulnerable residents.
The move comes after an independent investigation panned the council’s handling of a dispute between neighbours in Crouch Road, Chadwell St Mary.
The row led to a six-day trial, left seven children in care and their innocent mum, Debbie White, in a bail hostel.
The council evicted Sarah Clarke and her seven children from their home in Aluric Close, Chadwell St Mary, in May 2007, after 15 years of antisocial behaviour.
Miss Clarke then rented a £1,000-a-month private house in Crouch Road, with financial support from the council.
Before Clarkes moved in, officials should have carried out a risk assessment, to see if nearby council tenants might come into conflict with the Clarkes, the report says. There is no evidence this took place.
Debbie White went to the council offices and pleaded for help – only to be threatened with arrest when, out of frustration, she staged a sit-down protest.
The Clarkes – already branded “neighbours from hell” by residents in Aluric Close – were allowed to move in next to Debbie White, 25, a survivor of decades of abuse.
Miss White suffered a further terrible blow when partner Alan Lloyd died in her arms of a heart attack in a local pub two months before the Clarkes moved in.
The four weeks after the family arrived brought a litany of incidents involving the Clarkes harassing and intimidating neighbours, with allegations of theft, threats, vandalism, under-age drinking and intimidation.
Neighbours complained to the council, but to no avail.
Debbie White went to the council offices and pleaded for help – only to be threatened with arrest when, out of frustration, she staged a sit-down protest.
She was then accused of breaking into the Clarkes’ home and attacking Sarah Clarke’s daughter, Victoria, with a hammer.
She was arrested, charged with aggravated burglary, causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon and her children taken into care.
Miss White was cleared of all charges in January, after a six-day trial at Basildon Crown Court.
Meanwhile, the Clarkes were moved from Crouch Road to Grays in December, 2007.
Ms White has now now returned to Crouch Road and says she has been told her children will be returned from care later this month.
