With reference to the problems faced by residents of Roselarge Gardens in Henbury, page three of Thursday's Bristol Evening Post.

The housing officers of the Bristol City Council are guided by the legal team of Bristol City Council as well as the anti-social behaviour team based in St Anne's House (to whom copies of this email are being transmitted) – as well as the Home Office in London.

The quote that you print and attribute to the council: "Council says it can't stop pair moving in with friend", is wrong for these reasons:

The council has it within its power to apply for and be granted an Anti Social Behaviour Injunction under section 154A of the 1996 Housing Act, which states "an injunction can be applied for where conduct is likely or capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person, and directly or indirectly relates to or effects housing management of the social landlord. The power of arrest has been extended where there has been anti-social behaviour but no violence or threat of violence." This quotation comes from the "respect" manual given out by the Home Office at a gathering of the relevant council officers and myself in April 2006.

The respect manual to which I refer was published in 2006 and I am sure there are many copies gathering dust at St Anne's House. It's a pity no one in the Anti-Social Behaviour Team can be bothered to read a copy.

The city council blows long and hard its own trumpet on how it has been granted Beacon Authority status for its work on Anti-Social Behaviour. The truth is that the council was granted the status of a Beacon Authority for its stance on street beggars in Broadmead (titled "streetwise"). The only reason that the council dealt with the beggars of Broadmead was at the behest of John Hirst (Broadmead manager) because the numbers of street beggars was putting off shoppers. (You ran the story over many months in the Post).

The final irony is in the penultimate paragraph of the story. An un-named council source states: "We have given Mr Mullen and his son every chance to improve their behaviour but they have continued to cause havoc in their area, which we will not tolerate for the sake of the local community". If this is so, then why not apply for an ASBI (Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction)? It must look to the locals as if the council are powerless. It is not, just ignorant of the law as it stands.

With this story, and many like it, is it any wonder that the city council and its officers are looked on with disdain by many of the citizens of Bristol? I do truly cast doubts on the ability of the officers employed by the council to collectively run a bath.

Philip Morris, Barton Hill.

● Bristol City Council's anti-social behaviour manager, Stuart Pattison, says: "You will note from the Post article that in addition to its possession action, Bristol City Council has indeed obtained a S153 injunction against a member of the household."

I am happy to offer the same assurance to you as has been given to the residents of Brentry and Mr Mullins himself. Sure as night follows day, if he causes further anti-social behaviour in Bristol he will be dealt with accordingly.