8.  The applicants are the owners of a flat in Riano, which they had let to F.M. 9.  In a writ served on the tenant on 31 July 1986, the applicants communicated their intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Castelnuovo di Porto Magistrate. 10.  By a decision of 3 November 1987, which was made enforceable on the same day, the Castelnuovo di Porto Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises must be vacated by 30 April 1989. 11.  On 17 May 1989, the applicants served notice on the tenant requiring him to vacate the premises. 12.  On 1 August 1989, they served notice on the tenant informing him that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 11 August 1989. 13.  Between 11 August 1989 and 27 May 1996, the bailiff made thirty-seven attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as under the statutory provisions providing for the suspension or the staggering of evictions, the applicants were not entitled to police assistance in enforcing the order for possession. 14.  Pursuant to Section 6 of Law no. 431/1998, the enforcement proceedings were suspended for nine months. 15.  The applicant decided, therefore, not to pursue the enforcement proceedings given the lack of prospects of obtaining the assistance of the police. 16.  According to the latest information provided by the applicants in their letter of 18 February 2002, they have not recovered possession of the flat.