Nuisance News Issue 48

ocial Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group

nuisance news The quarterly newsletter of the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group

Issue 48

Dec 2008

Annual Conference

An outstanding event “An excellent conference, extremely well run and with lots of positive passion.”

“The people attending really want to make a difference and learn from others.”

Two examples that typify the feedback from delegates to this year’s Conference and Exhibition held at the International Centre, Telford over 7th and 8th October. Incorporating the SLCNG’s

Putting Tenants first

‘Delivering Results’ Awards for the first time, the

Making every tenant matter and delivering

Conference and

coordinated services that truly deal with local people’s

Exhbition was not only

needs are central to the new agenda whether in relation

the “biggest ever” but

to the new regulatory system established by the Tenant

with an excellent speaker

Services Authority or the further development of the

line up and a compre-

policing reforms and their focus on the neighbourhood

hensive and challenging

and the local.

programme, it really did

For social landlords’ part there will be an increasing need

deliver something for

to use the skills and intelligence from front-line workers

everyone.

to work with others to provide neighbourhood solutions.

Very importantly, the Conference reinforced the reality that social landlords are making a huge contribution to making communities feel safer and are achieving

Tackling the fear of crime Addressing people’s worries about crime and anti-social behaviour is arguably the key challenge for everyone.

sustained success in tackling anti-social behaviour

Paul Harvey, Ipos MORI, impressed upon delegates the

through an intelligent mix of preventative, enforcement

importance of “making sure people know what you are

and rehabilitative interventions.

doing on these

The Conference was timely coming as it did on the back

issues” and

of the Flanagan Review of Policing, the Youth Taskforce

demonstrated clearly

Action Plan, the Youth Crime Action Plan, the Casey

that the better

Report, the Policing Green Paper and the Housing and

informed people are,

Regeneration Act. The implications and key aspects of all

the less they worry.

of these, and more, were examined in detail.

continued on page 2

SLCNG

In this issue

Annual Conference

SLCNG

Annual Conference Editorial Representing You SLCNG Awards CSHS/SLCNG Conferences Policy Advisory Group Share your news with us

Insider’s View

Role of the media 1-2 3 4 6 8 12 24

Whiteheads ReACT

Feature

5

9 24

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claimed as she told delegates “what you are doing is one of the bestkept British secrets, don’t world about your successes.”

Eve’s offer of a year of her time and experience to help get our message across, has been readily accepted and the SLCNG are now working with her to develop this crucial area of activity.

Investing in young people responsibility of local authorities and local partners is making its mark,

News

Members News

tabloid editor, Eve Pollard

The Youth Taskforce, designed to clarify and strengthen the collective

Guiness Northern Counties 10-11

Importance of local data Civil Judges ditch wigs

greatest allies” former

let it get swept under the carpet. You need the media to help you tell the

Sponsor Features

Conference Review

“Journalists could be your

advised Deputy Director Ian Brady as he called for a further breaking down of barriers between professions.

Other contributors included Twilight Bey, who argued for community

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intervention backed by investment as “the best way to go” in helping troubled young people become useful citizens and creating leaders for the future.

Derby Homes Fosseway CityWest Homes Housing Hartlepool Elmbridge HT Riverside Group Riverside & Arena Housing Bowlee Park Housing Obituary - David Garland

14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18

Shoosmiths Wakefield & District Vale Housing ACIS Group Anthony Collins Wales & West Knightstone Housing H&F Homes New Progress Homes in Havering H&F Homes

18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23

Critical role for SLCNG and its members Sue Strickland, Delivery Manager for the newly formed Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Group within the Home Office announced the plans for implementing the Crime and Communities Review, including the establishment of pioneer areas to take the proposals forward.

She also delivered a message from the Group’s Head, Louise Casey, telling Conference “we are banking on you to help us make this work. You have shown crime and anti-social behaviour can be stopped. We look forward to increasing our partnership working with you.”

A sentiment echoed by Garth Crookes, winner of two FA cups and a UEFA cup with Spurs and now a football pundit with the BBC “We all have to work together to meet the challenge presented by crime and antisocial behaviour. Football can’t do it without the help of agencies like yours,” he said.

“Keep up your good work.”

The full Conference Report is available on the SLCNG website at www.slcng.org.uk

SLCNG Advisor and has built a very capable team around her,

2008 - a busy year all round

comprising people with excellent skills and experience –

That’s what we predicted in the March edition of

Secondly, the Home Secretary has announced changes

Nuisance News and how right we were!

to the way that police performance will be monitored by

To recap on some of the highlights:

declaring that police will have only one top down

Annual Conference: an outstanding event in Telford in October [much more elsewhere in this edition];

Accreditation: discussions started in earnest with the Tenant Services Authority;

Wales: commissioned with HouseMark to produce a Hate Crime Toolkit [due for completion March 2009]

Scotland: a well attended first regional meeting for Scottish colleagues in Stirling in November

And that’s apart from the “routine” work done by the

both at Government level and on the front line.

performance indicator. The push for greater local accountability will see more decision making and monitoring happening at the local level.

Are the two actions linked?

Well, both appear to have a lot to do with “confidence.”

Louise Casey was appointed to help build community confidence in tackling crime and delivering justice.

Jacqui Smith’s only top-down target for police forces will be about public confidence.

team in Coventry to help support members in their day

Delegates at the Telford conference heard from Ipso

to day work of tackling anti-social behaviour.

MORI about the importance of using the media as part

Government Reviews Our September edition of Nuisance News reflected on the number of reviews and action plans to tackle crime

of a campaign to boost public confidence in the agencies tackling antisocial behaviour.

Shout about successes

and anti-social behaviour that had been produced thus

Social landlords need to shout about their successes and

far by Government. In the build up to the next general

not blame the local press if they fail to report good news.

election it seemed that the decks were being cleared for

We all know that bad news tends to make the headlines

concerted action against anti-social behaviour.

but housing officers need to work with partners and

The more insecure among us have been repeatedly reminded by senior civil servants that the positive role of

residents to make sure that everyone hears about the efforts being made to deal with anti-social behaviour.

social landlords is well entrenched in Government

For our part, SLCNG will be working with media experts

thinking and that the work of housing officers is

and will follow up the generous offer made by Eve

understood and valued. However, the police will play a

Pollard at the conference to work with social landlords to

more influential part in the neighbourhood campaign to

help them get the attention in the press that they

tackle anti-social behaviour and it is important that social

deserve. Eve has experience of editing the Sunday Mirror

landlords ensure that their police colleagues are fully

and the Sunday Express so we need to tap into her

aware of what front-line housing officers can achieve. We

wealth of experience and know-how.

must all be confident that everyone completely

So busy times behind us this year for all of us involved in

understands each other’s roles if we are to dovetail

tackling anti-social behaviour.

neatly in the furtherance of the common aim.

And every sign that it won’t be

Recent Developments

any quieter next year.

Roll on 2009!

There have been two recent developments that social landlords need to be aware of.

Peter Jackson

Firstly, Louise Casey has returned to the fray in the guise

Managing Director

of the Government’s Neighbourhood Crime and Justice

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SLCNG

Representing You With over 300 member organisations, representing more than three million tenancies, the SLCNG is uniquely placed to make our members voice heard where it matters. One of the ways we do this is to respond to consultations and announcements by Government and other key bodies.

On the decision not to rollout the position of asb coordinators across county courts. SLCNG has challenged the Ministry of Justice

On the Law Commission Report on responsible letting in the private rented sector, SLCNG said “We were initially disappointed to find that the Commission had decided not to look at antisocial behaviour, but understand their reluctance.

However we fully support the proposal that a Code of Housing Management Practice could be developed for private sector landlords. With the

“Many of our 300 members were eagerly anticipating the establishment of coordinators in each of the county courts in line with the commitment in the Respect Action Plan.

Could you please advise on the following points:

What was the basis of the decision?

Why were court users apparently not consulted before the decision was made?

expertise that we have in the Group we feel that SLCNG is ideally placed to help develop such a

ularly social landlords, about your decision?

Code. There is no reason why such an accreditation scheme couldn’t apply to both the private

What notification has been given to court users, partic-

What will happen to the existing coordinators in the twelve pilot courts?

and social rented sectors.”.

Responding to the Policing Green Paper Consultation SLCNG said

and operationally with their local police and partnerships, frequently taking the lead on appropriate issues. It is , however, important to appreciate that

The SLCNG agrees that the public has a vital role to play

engagement with CDRPs can pose huge logistical

in fighting crime and that they need to be clear about

problems for social landlords operating in multiple

what they can expect from the police in order to fulfil

CDRP areas and for CDRPs themselves.

that role most effectively. As a member based organi-

If the ultimate objective of reducing the fear of crime as

sation comprising over 300 social landlords and

well as the incidence of crime is to be reached, then the

focussing on effective solutions to anti-social behaviour,

involvement of social landlords must be adequately

the SLCNG also shares many of the Green Paper’s

structured, resourced and embedded much more

objectives and we would be pleased to work further on

deeply than has been the case historically. It will not be

those issues with you.

sufficient for social landlords to have “a seat at the

We do, however, have a major concern that there is a

table.”They will, for example, need to be involved at all

lack of awareness or understanding of the practical

critical points from data capture/intelligence mapping

reality of social landlords and the huge diversity across

through strategic planning to operational delivery,

the sector. Many of our members engage strategically

performance management and review.

Copies of the complete submissions are available at www.slcng.org.uk 4

Insider’s View

The Ring of Confidence

be a big hit with everybody. On my table, we were very impressed with the quality of all the entrants. The

Well, it certainly is true that absence

highlight was the Tim Winter award and it was wonderful

makes the heart grow fonder. This

to see his family on hand to hear some of the many

year’s SLCNG annual conference was

tributes to such an important and sadly missed figure.

my first one in almost five years, and it

Day two saw the keynote address from the newly

was great to make a return. I’m really

constituted Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Group,

pleased to hear that Telford is going to

which sits within the Home Office. There was some

be the new home of the conference.

disappointment that its Head, Louise Casey, had been

Although the NEC was a great venue, there was

floored by some dodgy chicken a couple of days earlier,

something a bit more intimate about the conference

but Sue Strickland did a great job of stepping in at the

centre in Telford.

last minute. One of the initiatives that the Group will be

The new format of the conference was another welcome

working on is the development of Community Crime

addition. The initial plenary on the first day, looking at

Fighters, who will be community activists, trained to

the role of the media, got everything off to a flying start.

challenge local agencies. In a plenary session later in the

Paul Harvey from Ipsos MORI gave a fascinating presen-

morning, Phil Morgan from TPAS talked about the

tation, looking at public attitudes to community safety.

development of 10,000 National Tenant Advocates, whilst

Like many in the audience, I was amazed at some of the

in the same session, Rona Nicholson from the soon to be

stats and figures presented. For example, the UK spends

defunct Housing Corporation outlined how the successor

more time and money on dealing with crime that the

regulator (the Tenant Services Authority) will put tenants

rest of Europe, but we still have one of the lowest levels

at the heart of its new regulatory regime. Does anyone

of satisfaction with crime and safety. The Prime Minister’s

see a pattern emerging here?

watch word at the moment is confidence. The PM is of

The penultimate session that I attended was called ‘The

course concerned primarily with confidence in the

Buck Stops Here’ and featured Sue again, along with

banking and financial systems, but the need for

representatives from DCFS and CLG. ASB stalwart Peter

community confidence in how public authorities tackle

Fenn reminded us of the incredible journey that we as a

anti-social behaviour is also paramount. Paul reiterated

sector have undertaken in tackling anti-social behaviour

one of the key messages of the Casey Review – that

over the last ten years. Not everyone shared this view

there needs to be more confidence in how things work

and there continues to be some negativity expressed by

at a local level. Their research shows that members of

some colleagues in the sector, particularly in relation to

the public have much higher levels of confidence in

old favourites such as partnership working.

Police and Local Authorities when they are told what is

Yes, there are still challenges that are going to be tough

going on. Although there are some indications of a level

nuts to crack, but as a sector we need to learn from

of trust in local press, Police are key to building up

others who have already risen to these challenges. All of

confidence.

the signals coming from different parts of Government

Respected journalist Eve Pollard then gave a fascinating

are that we will all be more accountable to those

insight into the world of Fleet Street and said that some

communities that we serve, so that we can help to

of the successes that landlords and their partners have

restore some of that confidence that is sadly lacking in

enjoyed is one of the great British secrets. She then made

many areas.

an exceptionally generous offer to work with a landlord

Thanks to everyone involved in putting together this

for a year on improving their relationships with their

year’s conference and for making it such an enjoyable

local newspapers. We look forward to seeing what

experience – I certainly won’t be waiting another five

comes out of that.

years before coming to the next one.

The dinner, speakers and the award ceremony seemed to

Deborah Ilott

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SLCNG Awards

The awards were inspired by the memory of Tim Winter, the Group’s first National Organiser, and recognise the achievements of individuals and groups who have tackled anti-social behaviour effectively and made a real and sustained difference to an individual or a community.

Roger Griffiths, Chair of the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group, said:“I am so pleased. The level of entries for the awards and the standard and innovation they show in tackling anti-social behaviour is a clear statement of the widening role and effectiveness of social landlords and residents.”

Cora Carter, Chair of Kirklees Federation of Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations, said.“I thought that the response to the awards was terrific. It really identified how many people are involved nationally and locally working to make our homes and estates better places to live.”

Samantha McGrady, Deputy Chief Executive of

The Tim Winter Award Kimberley Harrison of Stockport Homes’ Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

Within 12 months of joining Stockport Homes’ anti-social behaviour team in an administrative capacity, Kim displayed exceptional enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism that culminated in her taking ownership of and successfully concluding a complex case. That particular case involved supporting and encouraging vulnerable and elderly witnesses throughout the whole process. In the words of an 87 year old witness “I would like to thank Kim. Without her help, I don’t know what would have happened.”

The Awards Panel also commended the work and achievements of:

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HouseMark, said “The winner in the section that we sponsored is Kenneth McFall, a true hero and an inspiration to us all. Thanks to his courage and perseverance, the perpetrators of anti-social behaviour on his estate were effectively tackled, bringing peace and quiet back to the community.”

Mike Blomer of ReACT said “The winner in our sponsored section - the team from Your Homes Newcastle - clearly demonstrated the benefits of early intervention and that actively working closely with people can change their behaviour which then benefits the whole community.”

Rachel Smart, Elmbridge Housing Trust For her infectious enthusiasm and readiness to share her expertise with others across all tenures and disciplines.

Izzet Biemen, London Borough of Haringey For his innovation, bravery and professionalism in deploying covert surveillance equipment alongside providing personal support to local residents and workers to save their community centre.

Louise Scaife, South Essex Homes For her leadership and drive in resolving, with residents and partners, serious and persistent “youth problems” in a particular neighbourhood.

David Prew, Helena Partnerships For his professionalism, innovation and tenacity in empowering residents and securing the evidence needed to arrest the behaviour of a family that had terrorised a whole neighbourhood.

Georgina Bowmaker, North Tyneside Council For her proactive work with local residents and partners in establishing community confidence, providing reassurance and keeping local residents informed at all stages.

SLCNG Awards

Individual Award sponsored by HouseMark Mr Kenneth McFall A tenant of the London Borough of Haringey who worked with his local ASB team for over eighteen months, in spite of suffering repeated threats and abuse, to gather and to present the evidence that was critical to obtain Orders against two families that terrorised his neighbourhood.

The Awards Panel also commended the work and achievements of:

Team Award sponsored by ReACT

Tracey Griffiths, South Staffordshire HA For excelling in coordinating many local networks to make a real difference in a rural village. One particular issue concerned a group of young people regularly breaking into gardens.

John Wiltshire, Birmingham ASB Unit For his meticulous and methodical approach and keeping the safety and wellbeing of the community as his driver.

Cathryn Bradner, North Somerset Housing Ltd For succeeding where others had failed on one of the most deprived housing estates in the region.

Pauline Beckett, Sycamore Way Tenants and Residents Association (Wakefield and District Housing) For her courageous leadership in delivering a series of community impact activities that resolved problems caused by a ‘convenience store’ that became a hub for criminal activity, including underage drinking. gives young people access to accredited qualifications through project based work. The fantastic efforts of the young people has helped break down barriers, promoted better understanding and is encouraging victims of crime and anti-social behaviour to come forward.

Adactus Housing, Breathe + Youth Shelter Project Based in Bootle, the project involved young people in designing and delivering a lasting solution to some very real local problems. With support from staff, the young people led on consultation, worked up the bid for the grant application and designed the shelter.

CityWest Homes, Church Street Civic Watch Team

Your Homes Newcastle’s Housing, Anti-Social and Enforcement Team whose comprehensive and proactive approach and commitment to early intervention resulted in 95% of people coming to its attention changing their behaviour without the need to resort to legal enforcement action.

The Awards Panel also commended the work and achievements of: Adactus Housing. Ancoats Miles Platting Project This is a charitably funded project in Manchester which

Amongst the many positive outcomes achieved in the last year, the Team has established the first Dispersal Zone in a residential area in London, redesigned open space, delivered weekly footballing sessions and assisted local people into employment and training.

City & County of Swansea, Anti-social behaviour Support Service This multi-disciplinary team incorporates a 24 hour support service and resolved acute problems associated with drugs dealing and other criminal activity in two city centre high-rise blocks.

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Sponsor

Are Landlords liable for the safety of their tenants?

This important issue was raised in a series of cases that have been before the Courts in 2008. Violence and threatened violence are issues that Landlords of all sizes have to deal with and are often reported in Nuisance News.

Landlords are expected to tackle most ASB cases using the remedies currently available but what is the position when things go wrong and injury or death result? Is the Landlord going to be liable to compensate the injured and the families of the deceased?

Background to this issue Two cases against the Police are relevant in this context - Van Colle and Smith. In the first, Mr Van Colle who was a witness in Criminal proceedings against Mr Brougham, was killed by him before the Trial started. In the Smith case, Mr S contacted the police on several occasions following a series of threats by telephone, text and e-mail. He was later attacked by Mr B who was later convicted of grievous bodily harm and making threats to kill.

The Court had to consider whether, if the Police are alerted to a threat that violence may be inflicted on a person and no action is taken, can civil redress be obtained against the Police?

The House of Lords decided as a matter of public policy that the Police were not liable and stated "By placing general duties of care on the Police to protect victims and witnesses, the ability of the Police to perform their public functions in the interests of the community fearlessly and with dispatch would be impeded".

Housing Cases

outline of which is as follows:

X and Y occupied LA Property and had learning difficulties as did an elder child of the family.

Over a number of months the family suffered harassment and were assaulted and severely abused by local youths The Court decided that there was a duty of care at common law that had been breached and damages were payable as the risk was known and if the LA had used the emergency housing process, the attacks could have been prevented.

The other case, Mitchell v Glasgow City Council has been widely reported. The chronology and current position of which is as follows:

Mr Mitchell (M) and Mr Drummond (D) were neighbours.

Possession action commenced against D and he was later arrested and asked to meet housing staff to discuss the incident and the Possession Notice. D lost his temper and 1 hour after the meeting he attacked M.

M died of his injuries 10 days later and his family brought a claim against Glasgow CC

Initial Court claim was dismissed as having no prospect of success.

At the appeal on the 29th Feb 2008 the Claim was allowed to continue

Glasgow CC is appealing to the House of Lords

The possible impact If the liability principle found in the Hounslow decision is upheld, a welter of claims may ensue from people dissatisfied with the ASB service provided and in each case the Court will have to decide:

What steps were available / taken by the landlord

Whether the steps could have prevented the harm

The range of harm that can be compensated for

The Police are of course a public body with particular obligations in respect of public safety. These duties do not naturally fall upon Local Authorities or Registered Social Landlords but two ongoing cases (plus the pending London and Quadrant v Weaver decision) are keeping the issue open.

Further information

The first of these is X and Y v Hounslow LBC a brief

contact Peter Whitehead on 08448 731360.

Further information about the above issues can be found on Whiteheads’ website :www.whiteheadsols.co.uk If there are any issues you would like to discuss, please

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Feature

Meeting the challenge of providing a consistently good service for customers affected by ASB The journey so far In 2006, Guinness Northern Counties established a specialist Antisocial Behaviour Team to help deliver a better service to its customers. Prior to this, incidents of ASB had been on a steady increase, as had their legal bills, as frontline staff struggled to provide what was an increasingly inconsistent service to customers.

Providing a central resource of skills and knowledge has substantially reversed these trends, with legal fees alone reduced by 40-50% within the first six months and a huge increase in the skills and confidence of frontline staff in tackling ASB. Established in 1966, Guinness Northern Counties is one of the largest providers of homes in England and Wales. Formerly known as Northern Counties Housing Association it became part of the Guinness Partnership in 2008.

The Association provides nearly 27,000 homes from the North East down to Chesterfield, employs over 750 people across more than 20 office locations, and spans over 70 local authorities.

Since then, the team itself has grown in size to meet the demand for its services as well as the growth in the association’s stock when it became part of the Guinness Partnership in 2008.

The original team of four (two caseworkers, an ASB co-ordinator and one administrator) is now almost three times the size, with bases in Oldham, Lancs, Sheffield, Leeds and Chesterfield / Nottingham. The ASB team provide advice and support to all regional teams, Leasehold and Supported Housing, on neighbour nuisance issues, ASB and Hate Crime cases.

Since April, the team have received 217 case referrals, with outcomes:Anti Social Behaviour Contract

24

Injunction / Undertakings

32

Notice for Possession

7

Postponed Possession Order

2

Possession / Eviction

4

The Guinness Northern Counties approach The high number of injunctions in proportion to possession actions reflects the association’s continuing commitment to helping tenants maintain their tenancy, yet modify their behaviour. Although enforcement is important when all else has failed, the team works with local housing officers to resolve their cases in other ways, wherever possible; by carrying out strong warning interviews, serving ABC’s, facilitating multi agency working and sharing good practice across the organisation. These forms of early intervention are currently proving the effective solution for resolving 8 out of 10 cases of antisocial behaviour.

Supporting front line staff Guinness Northern Counties approach relies strongly on effective communi-

If you would like your organisation featured in Nuisance News, please contact Nick Mackley, Tel: 024 7623 1748

Email : nick@slcng.org.uk

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cation and partnership working between the central ASB team and housing management staff on the front line. Skilled frontline staff are also the key to delivering a consistent and effective service.

The association has invested significantly in building a central pool of expertise that can be accessed by staff and in sharing skills, good practice and experience of ‘what works’ across the organisation.

Through staff workshops, ASB surgeries and an ongoing training programme,

Feature staff are increasingly able to deal effectively with the

information gatherers.

early warning signs of an ASB problem. They know they

Since 2006, the witness support programme has been

can call on the ASB team to review a case and provide

improved, extending the service to provide out of hours

the appropriate legal or tactical support.

support as well as introducing new procedures and

Typically the ASB Team becomes involved when the

witness support training for staff.

regional team wishes to pursue legal action, needs

The Residents ASB forum further develops the

assistance or advice with long standing and/or difficult

understanding of how best to support residents facing

to resolve cases or requires evidence-gathering

ASB and drive forward improvements in the service.

equipment or independent evidence.

The courage of individual customers has been

Continuously improving the ASB service

recognised in the annual Standing Together Awards. This

The association also has a Community Safety Working

important event enables the association to publicly

Group made up of members of the ASB team, frontline

thank our customers who have refused to be intimidated

housing staff, leasehold, customer involvement and

by the perpetrators of ASB, and thereby helped bring an

supported housing staff. This group sets the annual

end to the misery they cause.

action plan to deliver and improve the ASB service. It

Looking to the future

also provides a comprehensive ongoing training

One key goal continues to be striving to ensure a

programme covering topics such as mental health,

consistently high level of service to every resident;

victim and witness support, domestic abuse, basic

no easy task given the organisation’s size and

procedure training, starter tenancy training, ASB

geographic spread.

awareness and mediation skills. It also helps co-ordinate

This is being achieved through having effective policies

publicity on successful cases to let residents know what

and procedures, sharing information and good practice,

is being done to tackle nuisance issues.

continuing with ASB training programme and

In September the group organised a full day devoted to

continually reviewing standard documents and other

tackling ASB, nuisance & harassment. The “Together We

staff resources. They are also working towards, and

Are Better “ day was for 100 regional staff with the main

achieving, ambitious targets around information sharing

theme of partnership working. Regional teams

and collaborative working with the Police and other

discussed ways of improving their service, actions are to

external partners across the 72 local authority areas

be included in regional plans, and the ASB team will be

where we operate.

supporting regional teams to deliver such actions.

This approach, along with continuous monitoring of

Partnership working in itself brings major challenges due

customer satisfaction and an innovative programme of

to geographical spread of the stock and cutting across

diversionary activities for young people, is all helping to

so many local authorities and police forces. Partnership

deliver Guinness Northern Counties’ mission of ‘Really

working varies greatly from area to area. The association

Making a Difference’ to the lives of its customers.

strives to benefit from good partnership practice and sharing this across the regional teams.

Working with residents Whether as victims of ASB or witnesses to it, residents play a key role in helping to bring offenders to account for their actions. It is vital therefore that they feel confident in the association’s capacity to deal with challenging situations and are fully supported in assisting as witnesses or

Guiness Northern Counties ASB Team

11

SLCNG In his second article Steve

protect the community and that is what we should be

Kilsby, of Oxford City

doing.

Council's team, and one of

We are there to ensure that people are protected, and

the The Policy Advisory

the ASBO is designed as one of the tools to do that - and

Group (PAG) members, Steve

of course there are several others these days, as well.

Kilsby, of Oxford City Council's team looks at the implications and background to naming and shaming

Naming and Shaming: Is that what we do?

So whence “naming and shaming”? If an ASBO is published in your local newspaper, is that naming and shaming somebody?

The implication is that we have generated the publicity in order to publicise the person. This is patently untrue; we have generated the

Much is said in the media about the issue of “naming and

publicity in order to

shaming”. It almost always appears as a derogatory term

publicise the awful

- a little like the term “political correctness” seems to have

behaviour, and to try to

undergone some kind of transformation now, such that it

persuade people of that

always appears to be a prejudicial term.

ilk, that they should

Is this really right?

Is this what we practitioners in the world of anti-social behaviour are really trying to deliver; the “naming and shaming” of individuals?

12

Naming and Shaming?

desist from carrying out such behaviour.

This may seem to be a semantic point, but it is fundamental to the

Tackling anti-social behaviour in the community.

profession (as I always characterise it) ensuring we are

I think we need to take the whole concept back to basics.

not all labelled as a muck-raking, red-top, Sun-loving

What are we doing in the field of anti-social behaviour?

reactionary force. Of course, some of us may want to be

The answer, I am sure everyone reading this will agree, is

seen that way – but somehow, I doubt it.

tackling anti-social behaviour in the community.

I get regular complaints from various agencies

Now, to do this, we need to ensure that measures are

supporting clients saying that we have “named and

taken against individuals who are anti-social and are

shamed” individuals.

rigorously enforced. Nobody would dispute that.

As part of our continuing efforts to have our profes-

But those with long memories will remember, as I

sionalism recognised, I feel we should be tough on the

remember, that the original drafted version of the Anti-

causes of naming and shaming, and we should rebut

Social Behaviour Order was called “ Community Safety

these accusations firmly.

Order”.

Doing our proper duty

Doesn’t that have a bit of a different ring to it? What I

We should clarify as carefully as we can that what we are

take from this is that the original thinking behind it

in fact doing is our proper duty by those affected by the

(probably dreamt up in some then smoke-filled room;

insidious and damaging actions of those perpetrating

perhaps there’s a sub theme to be developed here about

anti-social behaviour – and those complaining should be

whether the lack of smoke filled rooms has stifled

using their own best endeavours to support us in that!

imagination…!) was that the Order was designed to

Steve Kilsby

News

Importance of local data As part of the government’s commitment to introduce monthly crime mapping’ nationally, the Home

The Code requires that local crime

information should be presented so

that it is:

Office, ACPO, the Association of Police Authorities and the National Policing Improvement Agency have

published a Code of Good Practice.

The Code says that “we will encourage full implementation across all forces by the end of 2008.

Local crime information must be meaningful to local people and presented in a local context including what practical steps are being taken to tackle local priorities.

Regular report back on progress to

tackle local priorities is already expected as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Team

approach. Local information should always include what local agencies are doing to tackle crime and

Precise enough to offer local detail meaningful to local people;

Focussed on the needs of the end user of the information – the general public, with simple clear presentation of information;

Contains information that is relevant and easy to interpret and that the force Data Protection Officer and Human Rights specialist have ensured that it takes account of the right to respect for privacy and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and of the Data Protection Act 1998; Timely enough to provide an update on the previous month’s trends and patterns; Simple to use, easily accessible, and delivered quickly; and Covering not only crime but other community safety information.

Burglary Robbery of personal property and theft from a person Vehicle Crime including theft from a vehicle and theft of a vehicle Violence against the person Number of reports of anti-social behaviour that are made to the police, and where possible, to other partners. ASB in this context means all incidents of ASB as defined within the National Standard for Incident Recording (NSIR).

All other Crimes (reported under a single category)

The references of most interest to social landlords are likely to be those that say the monthly Neighbourhood Policing Team reports “should always include what local agencies are doing” and that the ASB data should include reports to the police “and where possible, to other partners.” It would seem that for the monthly reports to be meaningful, more effective

increase community safety and the

Minimum requirements are given as

engagement with the police will be a

impact this is having.“

local data relating to the following:

prerequisite.

Civil judges ditch wearing wigs Judges in civil and family cases in England and Wales have stopped wearing wigs as part of a new dress code.

The judges have also started wearing a new simplified design of working robes in court, with the aim of modernising. However judges and lawyers working on cases in criminal courts will keep their traditional wigs and gowns.

High Court judges will wear a single set of red robes for criminal proceedings throughout the year, rather than different sets of robes for summer and winter.

Court of Appeal and High Court judges will no longer wear wigs, wing collars and bands when sitting in open

court in civil and family proceedings, and will wear the new civil robe.

Otherwise there will be no change to court dress worn by judges when sitting in criminal proceedings.

A spokeswoman for the Judiciary of England and Wales said: "One of the priorities of the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, was to modernise the judiciary and to have a court working dress that would reflect this. The changes were introduced after both public and internal consultation with the judiciary in England and Wales.

"An additional benefit of the changes has been to reduce the running costs of producing and maintaining court working dress."

13

Members News

Junior Warden Schemes Derby Homes Derby Homes and the Chaddesden Neighbourhood Team are working with schools to create a new Junior Warden Scheme aimed at encouraging young

have also been commissioned to design a logo for the scheme, which will be used on their uniform. A successful application for £2,000 has been made to the Extended Service Funding to support the scheme.

One recent activity was when the Junior Wardens visited Chaddesden Fire Station where they were given a tour of the station by the Derbyshire Fire Service team and

people to become more

took part in team building activities.

involved in their

“The scheme is already having a positive influence,” said

community and take

Karen Minto, Community Safety and Engagement

pride in the environment

Officer. “The activities we’ve done with the young

in which they live.

A pilot scheme has been developed throughout the summer break to provide training and activities for the Junior Warden volunteers, who have all recently completed Year 6. The activities include litter picking,

people have helped to build their confidence and develop their skills. Our aim is to give all the Junior Wardens a better understanding of the diversity of their community

graffiti removal, and patrolling with the Derby Homes

and pride in their

Community Watch Patrol team, who are acting as

environment.”

Fosseway Fosseway Living has started a Junior Warden scheme in the Beeches area of Cirencester. The majority of the estate is owned by Fosseway, and there is a large communal garden at the back of one block which is being currently renovated.

As part of the investment in the area, and to forge stronger links with the children who live there, 14 local children have signed up for the first Fosseway Junior Warden scheme. This is to show them that they can make a difference to the place where they live and encourage them to take part in their community. There is a 15 week programme aimed at building their life skills and helping them to become responsible young citizens.

Every Saturday morning the children, aged between 4 and 11 years, take part in a variety of activities including self-defence, road safety, nature trails and healthy living.

They have a free uniform; a polo shirt, fleece,‘high-vis’ jacket and thick gloves, which they wear when carrying out litter picks on their estate. The litter picks create a better environment which will reduce incidents of

14 12 10

mentors to the young people involved. The Wardens

To find out more Karen Minto 01332 711185 Karen.minto@derbyhomes.org.

anti-social behaviour and environmental crime. By investing in the young people we are making a better estate for everyone who lives there.

There has been tremendous support from the Police, Fire Service, Cotswold District Council and other services. The Junior Warden scheme has also brought benefits of closer interaction with the residents and improved access to previously unresponsive tenants. Many residents commented on seeing the kids out in their ‘high-vis’ uniforms. As part of the programme a Family Fun Day was held where parents were canvassed for further support of the scheme, and there are enough parents willing to take the scheme over next year with Fosseway’s help and advice to keep it going.

To find out more Sam Knowles, sam.knowles@fosseway.com

Members News

Community Payback – a positive experience for all CityWest Homes has been a key player working with the London Probation Service, Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police on Community Payback projects. These provide the opportunity for local people to have their say on how men and women, who have committed crimes, should make amends for the harm they have caused.

One of the projects took place this year on the Lillington Gardens Estate in Pimlico. For six months a Community Payback team was deployed every week to carry out environmental improvements such as painting railings, removing graffiti and clearing weeds.

It has been a positive experience for all.

Residents have seen offenders “pay back” to the community through unpaid work and offenders have benefited with essential life skills which it is hoped will make them think twice before getting involved in any further offending.

The physical improvements have also helped tackle anti-social behaviour by creating an improved environment that does not attract the same levels of graffiti and street urination.

The project would not have been possible without key people working together to make the project a success, including members of the estate team, the London Probation Service supervisor; the City Council and all the offenders involved in the project.

The estate manager said “This scheme has been a great success. It has given offenders the opportunity to develop their skills at the same time as helping to improve the environment on the estate.”

Youngsters get clued up on crimebusting Housing Hartlepool has helped give youngsters a taste of what it is like to be a crimebuster.

In true CSI style, the children got to play detective as part of a murder mystery event held at the town’s Phoenix Centre.

About 20 members of the Crimestompers youth group gathered DNA and fingerprints, interviewed witnesses and learned about how arrests are made in their quest to solve the fictitious murder of a housing estate manager. The aim of the scheme was to teach the group, aged eight to 13, about police work.

The two day event was led by PC Val Marley, Police Community Support Officer Simon Thompson and Natalie Gooding, from Housing Hartlepool’s Tenancy Relations and Enforcement Team.

PCSO Thompson said:“This event has demonstrated there are youngsters out there who are keen to get involved in the community and local issues and want to improve their area.”

Natalie Gooding said:“It is great to be involved with such a worthwhile project that is engaging young people and promoting community safety.”

The event concluded with the youngsters assisting in the “arrest” of Housing Hartlepool’s Resident Participation Manager Mick Thompson for the “murder” of Housing Officer Suzanne Bishop.

Cath Torley, from Central Estate Management Organisation, who played the role of one of the suspects said:“It was a brilliant event that I thoroughly enjoyed being part of. The kids really enjoyed it and it was great seeing so many of them from the estate being involved in such a worthwhile initiative.”

The crime-solving event was held in conjunction with the area’s neighbourhood policing team, Housing Hartlepool and Sure Start extended services.

The Crimestompers group meets fortnightly to learn about community safety and aspects of police work.

They have been visited by the mounted branch, the dog handling unit, crime prevention officers and other agencies such as the fire brigade and straightline alcohol education services.

Future plans include the group developing a community garden and learning basic first aid skills.

15

Members News

Stamp Out Boredom!

Elmbridge Housing Trust actively engages with the local community, particularly in the prevention of anti-social behaviour. Over the summer, in partnership with Surrey Police they worked with a group of young people from

pass for a day at the local leisure centre, to a lunch at

the St Johns Estate on an innovative new project, called

Nando’s.

Stamp Out Boredom. This was designed to help them to

Upon

engage with the local community, improve their learning,

successful

motivation and leadership skills as well as keeping them

completion

entertained over the summer holidays.

of all four weeks a day out to Walton Firs Youth Acitivity

The project ran over four weeks and 14 young people

Centre was organised, where the young people could put

undertook activities which improved the local

to good use many of the skills they had learnt during the

environment for residents in addition to the personal

project.

development opportunities that they received. Centre

The scheme was an example of effective partnership

stage as part of the project was the creation of the

working with other agencies. The local police were partic-

mobile diary room ‘pod’, donated by Mears, the Trust’s

ularly active supporters and participants in the

repairs contractor. Residents are able to enter the pod

programme. One participant 13 year old Lee Cooper said

and record their thoughts about their community.

“I have enjoyed being with friends and helping people

For each week that all of the tasks were completed the

with their gardens and am looking forward to going to

youngsters received a reward, which ranged from a free

Walton Firs”.

Kids who sail close to the wind change direction

Kids from Wirral and St Helens gained their sea legs as well as a host of nautical skills on a summer school with a difference, thanks to funding from Riverside Housing.

The group of ten youngsters learned diving, first aid and basic sailing onboard the Glaciere, moored at the Liverpool Marina. The brainchild of Liverpool’s Dave Murray – the Glaciere project teaches disadvantaged youngsters the basics of sailing, in a bid to motivate, inspire, and keep them on the straight and narrow.

Riverside Housing gave £4,000 towards the five-week course as part of its mission to reduce anti-social

16

swimming

behaviour in its neighbourhoods, and the police provided £1,000 funding.

Tanya Marsh, Riverside Housing’s community initiatives officer said: “We worked with the Youth Inclusion Project and the police to identify a group that would most benefit from the experience. The teamwork and discipline needed for sailing helps to turn young people’s lives around. Some kids go on to take up further sailing courses and even become volunteers at the Glaciere project or other sailing initiatives.”

The Glaciere project was recently featured as part of an ITV documentary. Dave Murray resurrected the sail ship from the bottom of the River Mersey five years ago to bring it back to its former glory. Now restored, it plays host to young people from across the region and its story is used as a metaphor for repairing wrecked lives.

Mark Whitehead works closely with the youngsters as a daily volunteer on the ship. Mark started his nautical career on a similar course to the ones he now teaches.

Mark said: “I’ve seen many kids and adults change their lives through their introduction to sailing. One of our novice sailors had an alcohol dependency problem but his love for diving inspired him to give up the booze to take his diving to another level.”

Members News

Praised by Home Office

The writing’s on the wall Young people in Runcorn had something to spray as they took up graffiti lessons on the Palace Fields estate.

Budding Banksys interested in honing their street art skills enjoyed the two-week graffiti art workshop backed

by Riverside Housing, Arena Housing, Four Estates, Halton Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Management Project and Area Forum.

Liverpool based Zap Graffiti taught the skills of street art to around 13 youngsters ranging from ages seven to 13 during the summer holidays. They also learned about the history of graffiti and the positive and negative aspects of street art.

Children from the four estates initiated the project when they put forward suggestions about how to tackle illegal graffiti in the area in the form of a DVD film shown to bosses from Runcorn’s neighbourhood services.

Instead of the suggested graffiti boards, the course was set up to give children the chance to make their mark in an allocated area, under supervision from local street artists.

Mark Browne, community initiatives officer for Riverside Housing said: “There has been a very positive response from the local community to the completed artwork. It really does brighten up the area. And because local kids have produced the art themselves we’re hoping that other youngsters will take pride in it to make sure that it’s not defaced.”

Young Melissa Rowlands, aged 10 from Palace Fields gave her stamp of approval on the workshops: “I enjoyed putting art on the walls so everyone can see it.

It was grotty before, but now it’s bright and colourful.

It’s beautiful.”

A report by the Home Office commends Bowlee Park Housing for contributing to a 10% fall in crime in Yorkshire and the Humber.

New initiatives led by Bowlee Park Housing are held up as a model, by the annual ‘Crime in England and Wales 2007/08’ report, for other communities working to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime.

The Home Office praise the association for their partnership approach to improving tenants’ quality of life.

It says that their parenting programmes, community action weeks and sporting activities throughout the summer holidays that support the community and encourage responsibility in young people are key factors in the drop in crime. At a recent meeting, The Fire Rescue Service reported only five (down from 40) reports of fire incidents within the area over a two month period.

They established the Tasking Group May 2007 in a response the high levels of anti social behaviour and in particular youth nuisance in that area. The Group which consist of members from Wakefield ASB Team, Fire Service, Youth Inclusion Project and Police have been successful in obtaining a six month dispersal order in the Criggleston area and anti social behaviour order against the worst offender.

Welcoming the report, Jane Keegan, director of Bowlee Park Housing, said,“The Home Office’s recognition for the impact of our work in the community confirms staff’s everyday experience. People are working together to achieve considerable changes which have reduced crime.“ Police recorded crime figures for the region show that between 2006/07 and 2007/08: • Violent crime has reduced by 12% • Burglary has reduced by 7% • Offences against vehicles have reduced by 18% • Robbery has reduced by 11% Minister for Yorkshire & the Humber, Rosie Winterton, said: “These statistics recognise the excellent team efforts of police and local agencies, working together in local communities to reduce crime, producing some tremendous results. Compared to the 2006/7 figures overall crime reduced To find out more by 10%.”

Jeff Allen Tel 01706 674353

17

Members News

David Garland In early October we were greatly saddened to hear that David Garland had died aged 58 of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

powers necessary to protect communities against antisocial behaviour.

The more longstanding members will recall, for example, the highly impactive HFTA Conferences delivered by David during that period.

After a distinguished housing career at Carlisle and

More recently, David advised the SLCNG’s Directors and

Newcastle upon Tyne, David left local government to

Executive on the Group’s development strategy which

set up his own business providing training and

has seen so many positive developments over the last

consultancy services to local housing authorities and

two years particularly.

housing associations.

David will be missed by everyone who knew him and

In the latter half of the 1990s David collaborated with

remembered warmly for his enthusiastic support to

the SLCNG in promoting and securing the changes

social landlords over many years.

Imprisonment and Possession

concerns about the tenant whilst she was in prison and

A West Midlands Housing Association successfully

Between Committal Application being issued and the

obtained an on notice Injunction Order against one of its

hearing, there were a further 17 breaches of the

tenants, as a result of noise which caused substantial

Injunction Order and the association made a second

nuisance and annoyance to a young family who lived

application to commit and served a Notice Seeking

next door.

Possession.

Birmingham City Council had served the tenant with an

The hearing of the association’s second application to

Abatement Notice which she breached on 6 occasions.

commit the tenant to prison was also heard in the

This resulted in her noise making equipment being

tenant’s absence. The breaches were proved and the

seized on each occasion.

tenant was sentenced to a further 4 months in prison

There were concerns over the tenant’s mental health

which was suspended for 6 months.

following her 2 children being taken into care. The association had no knowledge of what the mental health problems were and felt the tenant required a mental health assessment so support could be put in place to help her to sustain her tenancy. However, she refused to cooperate and the mental health professionals did not engage with the association.

The tenant breached the injunction order and reluctantly the association decided to make a Committal

18

needed to equip social landlords with the tools and

so a mental health assessment was not carried out during this time.

The association received complaints of further breaches.

Rather than invoke the suspended sentence, the association unwillingly pressed ahead with its claim for possession and successfully obtained a 14 day Possession Order.

Throughout the proceedings the tenant made no contact with the association or its’ legal representatives nor did she instruct anyone to act on her behalf.

Application.

Yetunde Dania, Partner at Shoosmiths says,“In this case

When the matter came before the court, the Circuit

possession was the last resort as it was not what the

Judge held, (in the tenant’s absence) the 7 alleged

witnesses or the association wanted to see happen. Had

breaches of the injunction order were proved and

the association been given more support by the mental

sentenced the tenant to 3 months in prison. A Warrant

health professionals there is a possibility the tenancy

for her arrest was issued. The prison service had no

would have been preserved.”

Protection for vulnerable witnesses Wakefield and District Housing has secured two antisocial behaviour injunctions against joint tenants who

Members News

Eviction following imtimidation

frightened and intimidated witnesses, after the case was transferred to the local magistrates’ court.

The tenants, who were holding loud parties with people drinking alcohol and taking drugs, had already been subject to an interim injunction prohibiting any further noise nuisance and abusive behaviour. Despite this, witnesses reported threats of violence and intimidation in the run up to the full hearing.

Gary Lumb, Community Safety Manager, said:“The witnesses were understandably frightened by this intimidation and were reluctant to give evidence at the full hearing. All were very fearful of coming faceto-face with the defendants in court.”

Representations were made to Wakefield County Court asking that special provision be made for the witnesses. As a result, the case was transferred to

An Oxfordshire motherwho intimidated her neighbours and kept them up all night with swearing and loud music was evicted from her Abingdon home by Vale Housing.

Wakefield Magistrates’ Court, which has better facilities

Oxford County Court bailiffs required police help after

for vulnerable witnesses.

the tenants partner staged a sit in complaining he was

On the day of the hearing special arrangements were

now homeless.

put in place to make sure the witnesses did not come

The family had moved into the three bedroom house

into contact with the defendants. Their evidence was

with a probationary tenancy and within four months

heard via video link and they were allowed to enter

neighbours had complained of constant fights swearing

from a separate entrance and wait in a specially

and threats against them and were reluctant to go to

designated waiting area.

court as witnesses through fear of retaliation

Thanks to the evidence given by the witnesses, 12

After the 34 year old mother of two children failed to

month injunctions with power of arrest were made

engage with support services and comply with strict

against the tenants. No further reports of anti-social

conditions set down by the landlord's board of appeal

behaviour have since been received.

following service of the section 21 notice requiring

Gary Lumb added:“We fully understand the pressures and strains that being a witness to anti-social

possession the bailiffs gave her the boot and restored quiet enjoyment to the neighbourhood.

behaviour can cause and we will do all we can to

Speaking after the eviction Housing Manager, David

protect the welfare of people who are willing to offer

Rundle said "This action has sent a powerful message to

us information. We greatly appreciate the support

local residents that we can act against troublesome

given by the witnesses and the expertise of the court

families who fail to change their behaviour and

liaison staff

To find out more

try to intimidate

To find out more

for their

Rachel Braithwaite 01977 724436

potential

David Rundle 01235 536001

assistance.”

rbraithwaite@wdh.co.uk

witnesses"

david.rundle@vale-housing.co.uk

19

Members News

Anti-social behaviour success Acis Group have had a further two successes with antisocial behaviour cases in Gainsborough Two brothers, with a history of complaints against them dating back over 10 years recently gave up their ongoing harassment to local neighbours and agreed to hand back their property rather than face imprisonment over breach of their Injunction.

Their anti-social behaviour included abuse to neighbours, creating a noise nuisance with metal drums and even chasing youths with broken shears. Acis

Group’s Anti-social Behaviour Team secured an Injunction against them in January 2008 and the brothers were further arrested twice due to alleged breaches.

Another recent success was the eviction of a tenant who had had a number of raids, by Police, where cannabis was found growing and other drugs paraphernalia was found. Even after being given warnings about his behaviour he continued to breach his tenancy and grow and use drugs in the property.

Lincoln County Court granted a possession order when presented with the tenants persistent attempts to continue to grow To find out more illegal drugs.

Natasha Clarke, 01427 675830

Possession in a sheltered scheme Redland Housing Association had been working to address the anti-social behaviour of a resident in one of their sheltered housing schemes since she began her tenancy in 2004.

The tenant would dump rubbish outside of the property, make excessive noise, use foul and abusive language and did not control her dog. She regularly set off the smoke alarm due to leaving saucepans to burn on the cooker. The fire services were called a number of times as a result.

Despite numerous visits, letters and signing an Acceptable Behaviour Contact in 2006, the tenant had failed to change her behaviour. Therefore, in 2007 Redland instructed Anthony Collins Solicitors to begin Injunction Proceedings.

The tenant gave an Undertaking to the Court during these proceedings, however she continued to engage in anti-social behaviour. Committal proceedings were considered inappropriate and so in 2008 Possession Proceedings commenced . An offer by Redland to settle in the form of demoting the tenancy was rejected.

At the hearing in July 2008 Redland was awarded a Postponed Possession Order made for a period of 2 years on terms that she desist from her anti-social behaviour.

Wendy Kelloway from Redland describes the process as challenging given the reluctance of many elderly residents to give evidence or attend court. There was therefore a heavy reliance on hearsay evidence. Nonetheless, Redland are hoping for an improvement in the To find out more tenant’s behaviour Jane Plant, 0121 212 7455 following the Order. jane.plant@anthonycollins.com

20

Action on untidy property Derby Homes has taken action against a tenant who has continually failed to keep his property in a reasonable condition. The garden of the house was overgrown and untidy and, inside, the property was overflowing with boxes, bottles, clothing and large quantities of newspapers, magazines and rubbish which had become a fire hazard.

A fire service report concluded that the property had extremely high fire loading to all rooms, which could have led to a rapid and intense spread of fire throughout the building.

Under the terms of their tenancy agreement, Derby Homes tenants are responsible for maintaining their gardens to a satisfactory level and they are expected to keep the inside of their property clean to the reasonable satisfaction of the council.

“Derby Homes has tried hard to help this tenant,” said Operations Manager, Maureen Davis. “We’ve been working with him for over a year to try and resolve the problems, but without success. The appalling condition of the property meant that it had become a fire risk.”

Derby Homes was granted a possession order on the property and To find out more the tenant has Jane Bettany, 01332 711044 now been jane.bettany@derbyhomes.org evicted.

Members News

New procedures to tackle anti-social behaviour Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) have

at their schemes more.

It is also their aim to empower residents to tackle low level nuisance themselves, giving them support and tips on how to approach a neighbour who is causing a problem. If they have tried to resolve matters themselves

introduced two new procedures to help tackle anti social

and the problem continues, the association will then look

behaviour and Estate Management Nuisance, as part of

into the complaint on their behalf.

its aim to provide good quality accommodation and to

They use a number of tools to tackle lower level nuisance

develop and support communities to meet local needs.

including neighbourhood watches, undertakings and

WWHA established its dedicated Anti-Social Behaviour

estate agreements which have been recognised as good

Unit in June 2003 and since that time has received over

practice by Housemark, the affordable housing sector's

5,000 reports of nuisance.

leading provider of performance improvement and value

WWHA consulted with residents and external partner

for money services.

agencies as part of its review of the ASB service and as a

Jan Fox, Senior Tenancy Enforcement Officer, said "We

result has made a number of changes including:

recognise that if these issues are ignored they can cause

changing the response times to certain types of anti

real problems for communities and it is our intention

social behaviour; requiring estate management nuisance

that by tackling nuisance efficiently we create an

investigation to be completed quicker; and making

environment of harmony and good neighbourliness

investigations less 'paper heavy' thus releasing staff to be

amongst our residents".

dealer

Surveillance jails drug

period of 20 days during the course of which there were 20 callers a day attending at your premises. This is not small scale drugs selling. To run this enterprise from home required considerable planning. It also required a

A drug dealer who was trading from his own doorstep,

degree of personal arrogance not only because it

was jailed for more than three years after a secret spy

assumes that no-one else living near you would notice

camera organised by his landlord gathered evidence

but also that none near you would complain."

against him.

The accused was selling wraps of heroin worth £20 to

Knightstone Housing Association employed private investigators to carry out a surveillance operation after some of its residents complained about his drug

between 15 and 20 visitors to his home a day, amounting to sales worth more than £36,400, the court heard.

dealing. The camera recorded about 20 people a day

Gina Cutler, Senior Housing Manager responsible for

calling at the home to buy heroin.

Nuisance Prevention, said:“We are very proactive when

Police moved in to arrest the man after 20 further days of observation confirmed he was selling drugs every day from his home.

The 32 year old form Gloucester, was jailed for three years and seven months after he admitted having

dealing with antisocial behaviour. In serious cases, and when neighbours are frightened to come forward, we will take whatever action we think is necessary to gather evidence, which includes the use of professional witnesses.

“This case is a positive example of what we are able to

heroin with intent to supply, being concerned in the

achieve through partnership working.

supply of the drug and possessing cannabis.

We're delighted

To find out more

Judge Mark Horton told him: "You were running a retail

with the result.”

Lucy Dicks 01934 524316

business selling Class A drugs. You were observed for a

lucy.dicks@arcadiahousing.co.uk

21

Members News

Action against nuisance tenants

Success at last!

H&F Homes has successfully evicted a resident after

New Progress Housing Association has,been successful in

his property had been used for immoral and criminal

pursuing a number of nuisance tenants in the Courts.

purposes for several years.

Other residents in the converted street property had

and means that if she breaches any of the terms of her

reported that the flat was being used for prostitution

tenancy agreement during that time, the association

and the Police were aware that known drug users

will be entitled to apply for an order to evict her from

and dealers were visiting the property on an almost daily basis, causing disruption to both local residents and commercial businesses. There were regular, loud

her home.

As a result of violent, alcohol fuelled anti-social

disturbances throughout the day and night

behaviour, another woman has had a Anti-Social

seemingly caused by alcohol and drug binges

Behaviour Injunction Order against her.

escalating into fights amongst visitors to the tenant’s

A Leyland tenant was was evicted from his home for

home. Women residing in his home (who were well

rent arrears and for operating an open house for the

known to the police for their own ASB) were often

usage of alcohol and drugs.

found to be begging for money outside the property.

The house consisted of two other properties which

resides in Blackpool. It orders him to stop threatening

young children, and the activities of their neighbour

to use violent behaviour whilst causing nuisance,

was having a huge impact on their daily lives.

annoyance, alarm and distress to residents on a

Despite this, they continued to work with agencies

housing estate in Leyland.

and consistently provided a well kept diary of incidents and reported all occurrences to the

The association was granted granted an interim Anti Social Behaviour Injunction Order against a man who

are both leasehold, including a family with two

An Anti-social Behaviour Injunction with the Power of

relevant agencies. Both parties also took the very

Arrest has been granted for a violent man who

brave step of appearing in court and presenting their

terrorised residents on an estate in Penwortham. The

statements to the Judge and both H&F Homes and

order bars him from entering the Kingsfold estate and

the Police acknowledge that without their invaluable

should he breach the order he will be arrested and

contribution it would have been very difficult to

brought before the County Court.

successfully gain possession of the property.

Within the last year the police had applied for a crack

requests from the association for her to change her

Court, and H&F Homes had also been granted

violent anti social behaviour, she continued to breach

possession six times in the last few years only for the

her tenancy conditions and cause fear and misery for

judge to allow the resident a ‘stay’ on each occasion.

Finally, at the 7th attempt the court agreed that the resident had failed to show any improvement in his

An Anti Social Behaviour Injunction with the power of arrest attached for a Leyland tenant. Despite repeated

closure on the property which was refused by the

her neighbours.

The association has also evicted a woman tenant for

or his guests’ behaviour and refused any further stay

alcohol fuelled anti social behaviour. They had offered

applications, much to the relief of officers and

support in an effort to prevent her carrying out

especially the

incidents of alcohol fuelled anti social behaviour,

residents who

To find out more

had been

Kate Boulton 020 8753 4817

suffering for

kate.boulton@hfhomes.org.uk

so long.

22

For one female tenant a 12 month probationary period

however she

To find out more

refused to

Emma Elson 01772 450 676

co-operate.

eelson@progressgroup.org.uk

Members News

CCTV modernisation proves successful Just over a year ago Homes in Havering moved monitoring technology for its extensive CCTV network into a designated Control Centre. During this time visible improvements have been made to the service since digital technology was brought in to replace the analogue system.

One key advantage of the new digital system is that operators monitoring the network are able to make

The footage was then passed on to the Safer Policing

decisions much quicker than before thanks to clearer

Neighbourhood team who subsequently arrested the

footage and images.This modernisation minimises

youths.

paperwork and frees time for the staff to provide a more effective and efficient service.

Reviewing the progress made a year on, CCTV Manager, Peter Welch, said “Moving from analogue to digital

HiH staff work closely with Havering Council’s anti-social

technology has allowed the service to evolve. We now

behaviour team to identify and if necessary, prosecute

have more modern and sophisticated system which will

the perpetrators of anti-social and criminal behaviour.

help ensure that

Recently the digital CCTV network had shown two

Havering remains a

To find out more

youths to be responsible for 70% of the borough’s

safe and attractive

Jack Gibson 01708 433298

graffiti.

borough.”

Brave residents get a result at court Three H&F Homes residents took a very brave step and stood up in court to tell their tales of years of misery.

Their evidence helped H&F Homes gain possession of the council property.

At the Court hearing the witnesses described how the tenant had caused nuisance on a daily basis. She and her friends repeatedly played loud music whilst leaving the door open and were often found shouting and swearing in communal areas.

The witnesses, the Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, Environmental Protection and H&F Homes all attended court to give evidence.

The tenant had previously been served with two noise abatement notices after Environmental Protection had received 44 complaints of loud music being played and eventually the music equipment was seized from her home - she subsequently pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching the abatement notices.

Things took a turn for the worse when she began to racially and homophobically abuse other residents of the Estate where she lived, in one incident she grabbed a resident round the neck.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinator supported the witnesses throughout the case by speaking to them regularly, visiting them at home and providing extra security measures to their home.

Without the information and the courage provided by the witnesses in court the tenant would still be causing a nuisance and making other residents’ lives a misery.

She was finally evicted thereby allowing residents in the area to be free from the noise and abuse that had affected them for so long.

The Police Community Safety Unit were also involved in this case and even when the perpetrator was given bail conditions in order to protect her victims, she breached them, was charged and found guilty and has already served a prison term on one count and is awaiting sentencing for others.

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Group Last year, Issue 46 we re-de June 200 signed in its new Nuisance 8 colourful News and format. new style launched From reade and layou it r feedb t has been are not Recognise ack, the resting appreciat initiative on our ed. How and comm number Share laurels ever, we of new and this best pract itment and regu issue conta ice and lar featu housing raise perfo ins a res. sector. rmance New Repo Don’t delay across the rter - get your nominatio Or more accurately ns in as soon as ,a commentat Represen you can.

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Issue 47

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No matt er what your involveme nt in tackl Matt Baggott ing ASB - our two Chief Cons day confe Twilig table, Leice rence in Telford ht Bey, is one not stershire Leading Police to be Distr Social Inter missed. ict Judg It bring vention e Weav s together Specialist er housing, Carol social servi Chambers, criminal ces, ADCS Chair community justice Ian to look McGibbon organisatio anti-social at the myth , Guns & ns and behaviour s and the Gangs Task Geoff Thom . It prom conference realit Force, Hom pson ies ises to be of of the year.

Youth Char Arts e Office the must a direct ter for Spor This year -attend result from is has been t, Cultu plus prese feedback re extending and exten ntations from our ded as its lengt from the Youth Task members. h, we will with even National Force, CLG, By be able more infor Youth Agen to provi Commissi RSLs, Hom mation effective de deleg cy, on, SLCN e Office, on how strategies ates profe G, Prob TPAS, Audi they can for tackl ation Servi ssion.

Leading develop t ing anti-s ce and speakers ocial beha the legal Exhibition viour.

Speakers include Our confe Verno rence is n Coaker, supported where you MP Hom by an enlar will be Eve e Office able to Pollard, providers talk to some ged exhibition Former of servi Tabloid ces to our of the leadi Editor To find members ng out more ocial Landlord and regis Crime and s Log onto Nuisance ter Group www.slcng conf.co.uk or call 024 7657 1111 Thank you ocial Land to all the members Crime and lords time to come along who took Nuisance and say Harrogate.

Gro Interest up hello at Once again in the 2008 very busy , our stand ‘Delivering and gene was Results’ rated a of enqu Awards large num iries from was excep ber organisatio tionally interested high. Than Thens quar thatterly in the bene k you for are new your supper slett membersh fits of SLCN ort. ofAwar ip. There the ds G Soci willalbe was certa presented amount Landlord inly a large of posit at the s Crime ive feedb Conferenc and Nuis completely ack on e on the ance Grou our re-designe 7th October. p messages. d stand In our next Issue 48 and bold This mod Nov 200 issue we will ular base easy to be featu 8 d system transport ring the many exam is and is being number ples of used at of exhib excellent a itions throu pract ghou ice that you have “An excelt the UK. told us lent confe about. rence, extre with lots mely well of posit run and “The peop ive pass ion.” le atten ding reall difference y want to make and learn Two exam a from othe ples that rs.” typify the delegates feedback to this year’ from Exhibition s Conferenc held at e and the Inter 7th and national 8th Octo Centre, ber. Incor ‘Delivering Telford porating over Results’ the SLCN Awards G’s for the first time, Putting the Tenants Conferenc first e and Making every tenan Exhbition t matter was not coordinate and deliv only the “bigg d services ering est ever” needs are that truly but deal with central with an to the new excellent local peop to the new speaker agenda le’s line up regulatory whether and a comp Services system in relati Authority established rehensive on or the furth and chall by the Tena policing enging reforms er deve programm nt lopment and their and the e, it really of the focus on local. did deliver the neigh something bourhood For Very impo socia for everyone. l landlords’ rtantly, the Conf part there to use the that socia erence will be skills and l landlords reinforced an incre intelligenc to work are maki making the realit asing need with othe e from ng a huge communitie y front-line rs to provi contributio s feel safer Tackling sustained workers de neigh n to the fear and are success bourhood achieving of crim in tackl through solutions.

Addressin e ing anti-s an intell g peop ocial beha igent mix le’s worr and rehab behaviour viour of preve ies abou ilitative is argua ntative, t crime interventi bly the enforceme and anti-s Paul Harv The Conf key chall ons. ocial ey [ipso nt erence enge for s-mori] was timel importanc everyone. impressed of the Flana y coming e of “mak upon deleg gan Revie as it did ing sure doing on w of Polic ates the Action on the people these back Plan, the know what ing, the issues” Youth Crim Youth Taskf you are Report, and e Actio orce the Polic n Plan, demonstra ing Gree the Regenerat Case n pape ted clear y r and the ion Act. ly that the The impli Housing better of these cations and , and more infor and med peop key aspe , were exam cts of all le are, ined in the less detail. they worr y. continued on page 2

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