Man takes Croydon Police to court over station noise (From Your Local Guardian)

Man takes Croydon Police to court over station noise

10:30am Friday 2nd July 2010 in

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A man has brought a private prosecution against Croydon Police over noise pollution he claims is making his life “unbearable.”

Conrad De Souza, 58, has lived next to Croydon Police station in Park Lane since 1985 and has taken borough commander, Adrian Roberts and canteen manger, Phil Minns to court.

The Friends Road resident said the noise of sirens, banging gates and deliveries at all times of day and night has “chased” him out of his home and “ruined” any time he spends there.

Mr De Souza, a civil servant who has already received a settlement of £1,200 from the police after a previous complaint, said his recommendations have gone unheeded.

Mr De Souza said: “The police station has got bigger, they are being crammed into a small police station which is not suitable for their activities.

“They are being completely unreasonable.

“This is an open and shut case, they didn’t have to press it all the way. My life has been made unbearable by bins being collected, deliveries, banging doors and sirens at all times of the morning and night.

“They have made my nights intolerable, I am being chased out of my house.”

Mr De Souza is looking for £4,703.79 in compensation for “loss of enjoyment” on his property and stress.

This breaks down as £2,320 in chiropractic treatment, £45 for a letter from his GP, £200 to cover the cost of the court summons and £2,018.79 for one year’s council tax to compensate him for the loss of enjoyment he has suffered of his property.

He is also claiming money for contacting delivery companies and waste collectors to pursuade them to deviate from their regular pick up time.

The civil servant had hoped Croydon Police would settle out of court, however, legal representation for Croydon Police said they would be contesting Mr De Souza’s claims.

Mr De Souza said: “Why are they cranking up the case. It is the tax payer who’ll be paying for this, I just want compensation.”

A spokesman for Croydon Police said: “We are unable to comment on this case at this time as it is still ongoing.”