A FAMILY who terrorised a Barnet estate and sparked gang violence in the area have been evicted from their home.

Barnet police took action against the Abdullahi family, who were living in Garrowfield on the Dollis Valley Estate, after they were identified as being the centre of many problems in the area since February.

Officers from the Underhill Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) took action to remove the family after investigations found the two brothers were “the focal point” of a small gang which wreaked havoc on the estate through robberies, drug dealing and intimidation.

Police said one of the brothers had been released on licence from prison having been convicted of stabbing another youth during a fight.

A statement from Barnet police explained the gang grew to about 20 in size and would frequently loiter in the stairwells to the block and intimidate residents.

Their behaviour resulted in an ongoing row with other youths on the estate, while police discovered weapons being hidden in stairwells and large fights breaking out.

The SNT faced “violence and intimidation” from the gang when they tried to step in, but officers said a “robust policing approach” was adopted to tackle the problems.

Patrols around the area were stepped up and action was taken to remove the brothers as a way of preventing large groups from forming.

Information on drug dealing taking place at the address led to a raid by officers and further evidence was found which resulted in one of the brothers having his licence revoked.

He has been placed back in jail while the other brother was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A and B drugs.

A dossier of “significant evidence” was presented to authorities and through working alongside the housing team at Barnet Homes, the SNT were able to force the eviction last Thursday.

Sergeant Simon Kelly, of Underhill SNT, said following the action, the large groups on the estate have “all but disappeared”.

He added: “The calls to disturbances on the estate have dropped dramatically and the quality of life experienced by the residences has improved significantly.

“This kind of drawn out problem solving displays the value of good safer neighbourhood team and the effectiveness of a multi agency approach.”