nuisance newsThe quarterly newsletter of the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group Issue 46 June 2008

ocial LandlordsCrime and Nuisance Group

Last year, we re-designed Nuisance News and launched it

in its new colourful format. From reader feedback, the

new style and layout has been appreciated. However, we

are not resting on our laurels and this issue contains a

number of new and regular features.

New Reporter

Or more accurately, a

commentator….. In line with our

view that Nuisance News needs to

be more reflective of current issues

we have commissioned someone

with authority and experience to

provide a regular piece for our

newsletter.The first article from

Deborah Ilott appears in this

edition.

Many of you will know Deborah

from her time at the Housing Corporation which she

joined in 2001. During this time she had policy responsi-

bility for data and performance management (including

the introduction of the new Performance Indicator

regime in 2006), efficiency, housing management and

anti-social behaviour. She worked closely with central

Government on the implementation of the Anti-Social

Behaviour Act 2003.

Deborah has a long career in social housing, and she is

currently working for the Greater Norwich Housing

Partnership. The views that Deborah expresses in her

articles are very much her own and we hope that she will

generate comment from our readers.

New - Delivering Results Awards

Inside you can see details of the Delivering Results

Awards which are designed to:

� Identify innovation and excellence in tackling anti-

social behaviour

� Recognise initiative and commitment

� Share best practice and raise performance across the

housing sector.

Don’t delay - get your nominations in as soon as you can.

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 by responding to

consultation papers issued by government. This issue

contains a summary of our activity on your behalf.

DDAMental Health Training

These training courses have

proved so popular that a

further eight training

events have been planned.

Details have been sent to

all members and they are

summarised on page five.

The importance of this

training is demonstrated by the article from our sponsor,

Whiteheads, in this issue.

Conference and Exhibition - 7 & 8 October 2008

Our annual

conference and

exhibition is now over

two days and being

held at the Telford

International Centre.

By extending the

length of the conference , we will be able to provide

delegates with even more information on how they can

develop effective strategies for tackling anti-social

behaviour.

Raising the Standard

Editorial

SLCNG

2

Editorial 2

Delivering Results Awards 3

Representing You 4

Mediation 5

Events Diary 5

Youth Opportunities 6

Whiteheads 7

ReACT 24

LB of Haringey 8

National Conference 10

Chelmer HP 11

Broxtowe Youth 11

Sanctuary HA 11

Derby Homes 12

Dominion HG 12

One Vision 13

mhs homes 13

Leicester City Council 14

Wales andWest HA 14

Clwyd Alyn 15

Homezone Housing 15

Three Valleys Housing 16

Midland Heart 16

LB Bexley 16

Broomleigh 17

Westcountry Housing 18

H&F Homess 18

Wigan & Leigh Housing 19

Housing Hartlepool 19

Eastlands Homes 20

First Choice Homes 20

Kirklees NH 21

New Charter 21

Sentinel Housing. 22

Sheffield Homes 23

H&F Homes 23

SLCNG

Insider’s View

Sponsor Features

Feature

Member’s News

Government caughton the ASBO hook?The much reported Home Office conference on 8

May together with the announcement by the

Home Secretary about “anti-social behaviour -

we’re not having it” also saw the release of the

ASBO figures for 2006 (figures for 2007 are due later this year).

Not surprisingly, the figures showed a down turn in the number of ASBOs

granted in 2006. For those that have always been ideologically opposed to

ASBOs, this probably came as good news. For practitioners it probably

reinforced the view that we have become more sophisticated in the way

we respond to anti-social behaviour. Certainly we are a long way from the

early days of ASBOs when many housing providers saw the ASBO league

tables as a way of demonstrating their macho approach to dealing with

anti-social behaviour, and there were certainly fewer tools and powers

around ten years ago!

The difficulty facing the Government now is that there has been so much

media (and, to a certain extent, Government) focus on ASBOs that the

public believe that ASBOs are the ONLY tool available to tackle anti-social

behaviour. This perception is something that SLCNG has highlighted in the

housing press in the past. So, not surprisingly, the reduction in ASBO

numbers has driven the Government into a flat spin as they are now being

criticised for going soft on anti-social behaviour! Influencing the media is

not easy. However it is important that the media, and our communities,

understand that social landlords are not “going soft”on anti-social

behaviour. The vast majority of our members have excellent relations with

their local press, so now is the time to make sure that they get the right

message about the successes we are seeing in our communities. Better

still, tell the communities yourselves though leaflets, newsletters and face

to face meetings about the positive improvements you are making.

The Respect Task Force is gone but now we are to get the ASB Action

Squad, as announced by the Home Secretary in May. With a very limited

budget we are promised expert practitioners who, depending on who you

listen to, will either

(a) explain how tools and powers can be used or

(b) kick some backsides.

Either way, no one will argue that some partner agencies need some

incentive to become more effective in multi agency working. Part of the

ethos of SLCNG is to help spread good practice, so we will be doing all we

can to support the squad once more details are known.Peter Jackson,Managing Director

SLCNG,May 2008

In this issue

New for 2008, these awards recognise the achievements

of individuals and groups who have tackled anti-social

behaviour and made a real and sustained difference to

an individual or a community during 2007-08.

Award winners, who may be practitioners or residents,

are nominated by SLCNG members who believe the

person or group deserves recognition for their efforts to

tackle problems.

The SLCNG“Delivering Results” awards are

designed to:

� Identify innovation and excellence in tackling anti-

social behaviour

� Recognise initiative and commitment

� Share best practice and raise performance across the

housing sector

3

SLCNG

TimWinterAward

IndividualAward

Eligibility

The TimWinter award is restricted to ASB

Practitioners from a SLCNG Member organisation.

Persons nominated for the individual and group

awards may be housing practitioners, tenants,

residents or employees of another organisation

involved in tackling anti social behaviour and

promoting respect in communities.

Nominations

Nominations are invited from SLCNG members by not

later than 01 August 2008.

Winners

Winners will be announced by 12 September 2008

and the awards will be presented at the SLCNG

Annual Conference on 07 October 2008 at the

International Conference Centre, Telford.

Further information

For further information and to make a nomination

please visit the SLCNG website at

www.slcng.org.uk

or e-mail

Nick@slcng.org.uk

TimWinter Award - for exceptional performance by

employees of a SLCNG member organisation in tackling

anti-social behaviour and making a real and sustained

difference to an individual or a community.

Individual Award for for exemplary practice demonstrated

by an individual in combatting anti-social behaviour and

delivering positive results.

GroupAward

Group Award for positive achievement by a group or team

to making their neighbourhood safer.

There are three categories of award

Introducing the SLCNG Delivering

Results Awards 2008

4

Representing YouWith 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 by responding to

consultation papers issued by government.

On the DCSF’s guidance onparenting orders, SLCNG said

“There is no doubting the ability of social landlords to

contribute significantly to the parenting agenda but

the roles played by other partners requires reinforcing.

SLCNG is confident that social landlords can play an

important role in supporting parents and families.

Many are already proving that they can succeed on the

Parenting Agenda with the development of FIPs, for

instance.The role that they play should not be taken

for granted and neither should it be assumed that all

landlords are in a position to become as involved as

those with "beacon" status.

The Guidance makes assumptions about the ability of

social landlords, particularly RSLs, to commission

parenting programmes or deliver parental support

generally.Whilst it is true that some RSLs, particularly

those with more resources, have done pioneering work

in supporting families it is unrealistic to expect all RSLs

are in a position to deliver. Some expectations of

Government might need to be dampened.”

On the Sentencing Advisory Panel’srecommendations on ASBOs,

SLCNG said

“To tackle the causes of ASB we all appreciate that it is

important that appropriate intervention and support is

in place as an alternative to jail, but our concern is that

these proposals might lead to an undermining of the

whole ASBO regime. Although social landlords use a

range of tools to deal with ASB,we know that ASBOs

work and the removal of such a significant deterrent as

imprisonment might mean that alternative, less

effective interventions will need to be used.”

On the Crime and Communitiesreview, SLCNG said

“Delivering high quality inter-agency working and

achieving and communicating positive results are of

fundamental importance in tackling crime and anti-

social behaviour and promoting community

confidence. Key indicators of such a standard include:

� giving a clear and unequivocal commitment by

all relevant agencies and partnerships to

tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the

interests of the community

� pursuing a comprehensive and coordinated

strategy that balances prevention, enforcement

and rehabilitation

� providing effective support and protection for

victims and witnesses

� intervening early and decisively

� setting clear and realistic objectives

� managing expectations

� investing in mediation and restorative justice

� delivering an effective information and

communications strategy that ensures people

know what is happening locally and that

balances positive and negative events

appropriately

� working to ensure the Judiciary is sensitive to

communities’ expectations

SLCNG

Copies of the complete consultation

responses are available

at www.slcng.org.uk

Dates Topic Where

10th June 2008 DDA Mental Health Training Newcastle upon Tyne

24th June 2008 DDA Mental Health Training Portsmouth

2nd July 2008 Southern Regional Meeting London

9th July 2008 SouthWest - SouthWales Regional Meeting Bristol

10th July 2008 DDA Mental Health Training Exeter

16th July 2008 NorthWest - North Wales Regional Meeting Oldham

22nd July 2008 Midlands Regional Meeting Nuneaton & Bedworth

24th July 2008 Annual General Meeting of the SLCNG Coventry

29th July 2008 DDA Mental Health Training London

28th August 2008 DDA Mental Health Training Kenilworth

3rd September 2008 DDA Mental Health Training Sheffield

11th September 2008 DDA Mental Health Training Liverpool

2nd October 2008 DDA Mental Health Training London

Summer Events

SLCNG

5

Online Survey ofCommunityMediationConflict Practitioners Network is

running a survey of community

mediation, online during May and

June 2008.

About the Survey

This survey is to find out what those

involved in community mediation

need for its future development.

Anyone can take part, as either an

individual or an organisation.

Invitations have gone to the 130

people who registered an interest in

Conflict Practitioners Network and to

about 200 community mediation

services in the interMedial directory

(at www.intermedial.org.uk).

Most of these people work in

community mediation, but the scope

of the survey is broader,

encompassing case referrers as well

as mediators. Each group is asked to

answer basic questions about what it

needs and how well its needs are

met at the moment.

Social landlords are the largest single

group of case referrers for

community mediation services.The

survey represents the mediation

community asking social landlords

what they need as users of

mediation, to help shape how

community mediation may meet

these needs. SLCNG is supporting the

survey and would like to encourage

social landlords to take part.

Discussion Forum

After the survey closes at the end of

June, a discussion forum will open on

the same website.The survey

contributors will be provided with

the survey analysis and invited to

take part in a public discussion

about its findings and options for

how community mediation may

develop in the future.

Conflict Practitioners Network

This is a group of people working in

community mediation to help define

new options for how community

mediation may develop in the future.

The Ministry of Justice supports the

work of the Conflict Practioners

Network in its efforts to provide a

voice for Community Mediation, and

is looking forward to the results of

this survey in due course.

The members of Conflict

Practitioners Network are represen-

tatives of the following :-

Centre for Peaceful Solutions, Brent

Manchester City Council Mediation

Service

Mediation Hertfordshire

Mediation North Staffs

Kent regional mediation services

Mediation Support Ltd

Resolute Systems (UK) Ltd

Thames Valley Family Mediation

The College of Mediators

The Restorative Justice Consortium

To take part in the survey, visit:

www.conflictpractitionersuk.org

For further information,

please contact

support@intermedial.org.uk

6

Insider’s View

Youth opportunities?Deborah Ilott

Well, the wait is finally over. We’ve spent almost six

months holding our collective breath to see what the

Government’s plans are for how it would continue to

build on the excellent work of the Respect Taskforce and

drive forward its commitments to tackling anti-social

behaviour. As we all know, the Home Office will continue

to have overall policy responsibility for anti-social

behaviour, but much of the emphasis has shifted to the

Department for Children, Schools and Families. In March

their Youth Taskforce Action Plan – which outlines some

of the future approaches in some detail, was published

with some fanfare.

So has much changed? Well no.

The Plan reiterates the valid mantra that all social

landlords know and love of enforcement, support and

prevention. And those headline grabbing soundbites are

still there – the exec summaries and press releases are

littered with the Daily Mail friendly language of

‘toughness’ and ‘non negotiable.’

So has much changed?Well yes.

The emphasis on young people was not a surprise, but

does represent a change of focus. There are a number of

challenges for all agencies working with young people.

Quite rightly, there is a need to acknowledge the

devastating effects of poor – or often absent – parenting.

There has been much debate within the social housing

sector on the role that landlords should play in this area

with some commentators feeling that the ability of

landlords to get involved in Parenting Orders and

Contracts is a step too far. But if we can begin to direct

parents to get to grips with some of basic building

blocks of parenting skills that many of us take for

granted, then this is one of the biggest steps that we can

collectively take towards helping deliver sustainable

communities.

Obvious problem

One of the more obvious problems that social landlords

and agencies working with vulnerable or at risk families

face is the often appalling consequences of what

happens when the safety nets fail and individuals fall

through the gaps. Social landlords often have the most

regular and on-going contact with these families, so it is

absolutely fit and proper that social landlords should be

able to signpost these vulnerable families in the

direction of joined-up and intensive support. As the

Action Plan rightly boasts, 99% of families using the

Parenting Early Intervention Pathfinders (PEIPs) found

the support they received helpful.

Key worker

One of the risks that jumped out for me when reading

through the Action Plan was that there is going to be a

lot of pressure heaped upon the shoulders of the

designated key workers for the young person at risk.

The idea is that the young person will sign an acceptable

behaviour contract and will then be supported by the

‘assertive’ and ‘persistent’ key worker. The Action Plan

outlines the scenario where a young person’s ASB is

linked to substance misuse. The ‘persistent’ key worker

will then help the young person get access to drug

treatment.

This sounds fine in theory, but is a long way from the

reality of the chronic shortage of places in drug

treatment programmes up and down the country. Social

landlords need to continue to use their voices to make

sure that schemes do get the proper resources that they

need.The Action Plan does come with a generous £218m

of funding, but as we all know, intensive approaches can

deliver astonishing results, but they can take up a huge

amount of resources.

What other roles are there for social landlords in helping

the Government deliver this ambitious Plan? Well

behind the tough rhetoric, there will be a need for

landlords to back up the laudable commitments to

support and prevention by continuing to use their

enforcement tools.

When a family does not, cannot or will not engage with

support, the sanctions have to applied. Stats from CLG

and the Housing Corporation show that applications for

ASB Injunctions and Orders continue to be successfully

used by Local Authorities and Housing Associations.

Social housing will continue to be a key plank of this

ambitious delivery programme, regardless of which

Government department co-ordinates its delivery.

Sponsor

Maritime Housing Association Limited & ‘D’

Possession successdespite serious mentalhealth issuesIn March 2008, the Regenda Group (Maritime) won a

case against a tenant (D) who had engaged in violence

and threatening behaviour at one of its Sheltered

Schemes.

The tenant, who had complex mental health issues had

been making life a misery for those living around her,

was eventually forced to give up her property.

This case goes to show that despite the potential

barriers presented by mental health and disability,

solutions to ASB can be found.

Below is a brief chronology of the key facts in the case:

2007

� June - a without notice ASBI was made against the

defendant who was later arrested for assaulting a

SchemeWarden.

� August - further violence and D was arrested and

produced. A psychiatric examination was ordered,

while D was remanded at HMP Styal.

� September - an NSP was served on D while on

remand during which time she continued to be

violent and abusive. At this point the Official

Solicitor (OS) became involved.

� October - the Defendant was deemed to be a

Protected Party under the Mental Health Act 1983

and further medical assessment was ordered. A DDA

specialist Judge was appointed. Social Services (SS)

eventually engaged with D for rehousing.

� Mid-November - D diagnosed with Organic

Personality Disorder and remanded to hospital for a

full report. Claimant issued possession proceedings

and applied to exclude D from the housing scheme.

� December - the Court found that D did have

capacity to understand and as D had been

relocated, the injunction was not continued and a

trial listed for February 2008.

2008

� January - D tried to terminate her tenancy and the

Claimant accepted this reluctantly as, despite D’s

alleged capacity, she was still a protected party. It

was then left to the Court to decide whether D had

capacity to end her tenancy.

� February – at Trial, the Judge changed his mind

about D’s capacity and said that the claimant should

not have accepted the termination. Ultimately a

possession order was made as it was concluded that

D’s conduct had affected the health and safety of

others.

Despite the length of this case and the challenges that

the Claimant faced, the outcome was a success.

A few things that you may need to consider:

� What is disability and is the defendant disabled?

� Does the defendant have capacity?

� Have these been investigated fully?

� Do they need a litigation friend and should the

Official Solicitor be involved?

� What can other agencies do to help?

Commenting on this case, Steve Blackburn, Acting

Director of Maritime said: “This was an extremely

challenging case for Maritime, both for its staff and

more importantly the residents who were experiencing

the ASB. I am extremely pleased that despite the

challenges we were able by working in partnership

with the residents involved andWhiteheads Solicitors

to obtain a successful outcome”.

The full case

The chronology of this case can be found in full on

the SLCNG website – www.slcng.org.uk.

Please contact Whiteheads for any advice on

dealing with ASB and Mental Health.

Christine Shilston

Whiteheads Solicitors Limited

April 2008

7

8

Feature

Balancing enforcement alongsideprevention and interventionHaringey’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Team has been operating since October 2003. In

addition to the dedicated officers investigating cases of ASB, the team also has a police

officer, two dedicated ASB lawyers and three parenting support staff.

The team has high profile in Haringey and has received recognition nationally from various

Government departments in combating ASB in the borough. It is tasked to investigate the

most serious incidents which include hate crime, violence or threats of violence, gang

related activity as well as drug dealing and prostitution.The team balances enforcement

alongside prevention and intervention successfully and this has been further supported by

the establishment of the Family Support Service.

CCTV

The team has its own CCTV officer who has access to equipment operated and owned by

the service.This includes a state of the art CCTV covert van and other overt and covert

cameras, which are used to detect incidents of ASB and lead to appropriate enforcement

action.

A number of brothels and crack houses have been closed due to this surveillance as well as

prosecutions relating to fly tipping and assaults against residents.The van has been

deployed in covert night time operations with the police as well as other high profile

investigations where covert surveillance is required.

Engaging with over 1,000 children

Each year the team engages with over a 1,000 school children over a

two week period as part of the junior citizen programme.They work

with year 7 pupils and through the use of games, puzzles and quizzes

the team has devised itself, alert young people to the impact anti

social behaviour has on others as well as discussing bullying and

harassment issues that they too may have been subject to.

The team also has a rolling programme of attending primary and

secondary schools to deliver its message on the consequences

should young people embark on a path of anti social behaviour activity.

Family Support

More recently the Family Support Service has been established, to engage with the most

prolific families engaging in anti social behaviour. The appointment of the dedicated

parenting practitioner and two staff seconded to the service, has ensured the delivery of the

‘triple p’ and ‘’strengthening family programme’ to those families most at risk of further

enforcement action or eviction from their homes.

The programme is a mixture of parenting classes as well as one to one support with the

parent /carer and the young people in their household. In addition, the floating support

workers go into households to offer practical day to day support in general day to day

household tasks, such as ensuring parents get their children to school , homework is

completed or advice and support on household budgeting and management.This support

has led to parents/carers being better equipped with the skills necessary to manage

household conflict and behavioural issues both inside and outside of the home.

If you would likeyour

organisationfeatured in

Nuisance News,please contactNick Mackley,

Tel: 024 7623 1748

Email :nick@slcng.org.uk

9

Feature

Recognition for their workThe team has received a number of accolades for the work it has

done.

In 2006, they received a special commendation award for

partnership working under the Building Safer

Communities TOGETHER award. Last year the team

drew attention from the then RESPECT Task Force with

a letter of commendation being sent to the Council’s

Chief Executive.

This year two of its officers are receiving special

commendation awards from the Borough Commander,

in recognition of work carried out to reduce anti –social

behaviour.

Young people text in

crimes in confidenceYoung people on a London estate are using text

messaging to report antisocial behaviour discreetly and

without fear of recrimination, in an initiative which is

believed to be the first of its kind.

Young residents on the Campsbourne Estate, in

Haringey, are being encouraged to use MSN, texts, email

or phone to secretly report any trouble they witness or

fear on the estate.

The initiative is the brainchild of Haringey's Anti-Social

Behaviour Action Team,which is leafleting every

household on the estate with details of how to report

incidents.

Mike Bagnall, antisocial behaviour manager at Haringey

Council, said the idea is to connect with young people

through a medium with which they feel comfortable.

"We looked at how young people communicated with

each other and it's through text and MSN Messenger,"

he said.

"It seemed a good idea to engage with them in that

way rather than the traditional methods that we used

before, like

expecting them to

telephone us."

Bagnall added that

his team carry work

mobiles to receive

texts from young

people and check a

computer for incoming emails and to respond to any

concerns and reports on MSN.

The leaflet asks if any young people are aware of any

anti-social behaviour on the estate or if they have been

a victim of bullying, harassment, violence or robbery. It

provides a number and email address to contact in

confidence without needing to leave their name.

The leaflet stresses that even if they do leave their

details, they will not be identified to any third party

without their express permission.

"We do have issues with antisocial behaviour and gang-

related incidents," Bagnall said. "Young people can be

subjected to harassment and muggings so we want to

hear about it and see what we can do to help. Often

they won't share that information so we're trying to

reach them and say they can make a report in

confidence."

At present the project is a pilot scheme but if it proves

successful it could be introduced throughout the

London borough.

10

Member’s News

Combining tocombat ASB

Chelmer Housing

Partnership (CHP) has been

praised by Essex Police after

a 17% reduction in anti-

social behaviour incidents in

the Chelmsford and Maldon

area.

CHP’s Estate Rangers

regularly partner and patrol

alongside Police

Community Support

Officers, offering ASB

intelligence relating to drug

use and vandalism while

providing a visible and reassuring presence to

communities.

Since the partnerships implementation three years

ago, Essex Police has seen a reduction of 17% or 3,159

ASB cases in the Central area on last year.

Inspector Cheryl Callow from Essex Police said “The

work on ASB has to be done in partnership and, as one

of our biggest partners; CHP has shown that it takes

this very seriously. Our relationship with them is one of

the best that I have come across in my 29 years of

policing, and I would like to thank CHP and its entire

staff.”

PCSO Karen Garwood added “We carry out regular

patrols with CHP and they have given us vital

intelligence in relation to neighbour nuisance, drug

use and abandoned vehicles.They are very good at

their job as they highlight potential problems to us at

an early stage.”

Terri Cochrane, from CHP, said:“ Receiving this

recognition is wonderful, especially for the team as it

boosts their morale and allows them to realise that

they are doing a fantastic job. Our working

relationship with Esssex Police benefits tenants as we

create and

achieve

community

safety.”

11

Like to knowmore then contact:

Victoria Norton, 01245 613111

Victoria.norton@chelmerhp.org.uk

Fresh start forhomelessnesscharity

Broxtowe Single Homeless Action Group has changed its

name to Broxtowe Youth Homelessness and received over

£200,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The funding will be used to prevent and tackle

homelessness across south Nottinghamshire and

Derbyshire. Two new staff members will work directly with

schools and youth groups to spread awareness about

homelessness and money management. They will provide

support to parents of teenagers at risk of being asked to

leave the family home. Kay Verity, Project Manager, said:

“We’re changing our name to better reflect the work we do.

We aim to work with young people to prevent and tackle

homelessness and our new

name makes this clear

straight away.”

Failure to modifyanti-social behaviour

AWest Midlands family have been evicted from their

housing association home following more than 200

reported anti-social incidents between 2004 and 2007.

Beth Johnson Housing Association evicted the family from

their property in Tividale, Oldbury, because they failed to

modify their anti-social behaviour having been served with

an injunction and demotion order.

The family moved into their three-bedroom house in

December 2004 but complaints of anti-social behaviour

followed, including family members shouting and swearing

abuse at each other and the neighbours, banging doors,

damaging properties and fighting with the neighbours.

In September 2007 the association, applied to the courts

for an injunction and demotion order.When the family

failed to change their behaviour a Notice Requiring

Possession was served and the family were evicted.

Mandi Pullen, Beth Johnson tenancy services manager, said:

“Beth Johnson takes all reports of antisocial behaviour very

seriously and will not tolerate this type of behaviour.

Eviction is always our last resort and we will always try to

work with residents to amend their behaviour.”

Like to knowmore then contact:

Jenny Allen 07951 347 360

Member’s News

Family InterventionProject

Derby Homes has helped a family through a new

initiative – the Family Intervention Project. The family

were referred to the project in November when they

were in danger of losing their tenancy because of

incidents of anti-social behaviour caused by the family’s

son. In December 2007, the family were granted a

license to occupy a Derby Homes property managed by

the project.

The project provides a range of support services and

specialist accommodation to help families and children

at risk of becoming homeless, or who have become

homeless due to anti-social behaviour.

When the family moved into the property, the son was

being held in custody for a number of offences. He was

released on bail in January 2008 and appeared at Derby

Magistrate’s Court charged with racially aggravated

assault, assault by beating, obstruction of a police

officer, possession of a bladed instrument, and

breaching his Anti Social Behaviour order by using foul

or abusive language in a public place.

“The father of the family told us that he had been

physically assaulted and mentally abused by his son on

a number of occasions,” said Emma Holland, Specialist

Support Worker. “He described his son’s behaviour and

told us about several incidents that had taken place

and, as a result, we agreed to intervene on his behalf. I

first visited the family in February to discuss rotas and

household rules and, during that visit, I witnessed the

son being aggressive towards his father. The father and

I left the house until the situation calmed down.”

“The father was very upset by his son’s behaviour,”

Emma added. “He was scared but wouldn’t report him

as he didn’t want to get his son into trouble and also

feared reprisals.”

Derby Homes took immediate action by applying for an

injunction through the courts. A 12 month exclusion

order banning the son from the area was granted,

together with a power of arrest. “This positive action

has helped the family overcome the problems they

were experiencing,” commented Maureen Davis,

Operations Manager. “It is an excellent example of the

work being carried out by the Family Intervention

Project, which provides intensive and vital support for

families at risk of

losing their home.”To find out more

Jane Bettany, 01332 711044,

jane.bettany@derbyhomes.org

Eviction securedas Respect Charter

comes into actionDominion Housing Group has finally secured the eviction

of a trouble-making alcoholic who has been a nuisance

to his Oxford neighbours for over eight years.

The 51 year old tenant has been evicted from his bedsit

following several years of threatening behaviour, loud

music, shouting and fighting associated with drug abuse

and prostitution.

The Group had previously attempted to intervene and

help him by working with his support worker and

offering him temporary respite in a homeless hostel.

Erika Bayley, Housing Services Team Leader , said: “This

tenant refused all offers of help as he did not wish to give

up drinking. This left us with no choice but to press for

eviction for the safety and well-being of the other

residents who have the right to peaceful enjoyment of

their homes.

“The eviction has been a great relief for all our residents

who can now relax in their homes without the constant

fear and worry that has plagued their lives over the past

eight years.”

The eviction comes as part of Dominion Housing Group’s

commitment to the Respect Charter, which it signed up

to last year. This indicates their commitment to the

Government’s standard for housing management and

the drive to create a culture of respect within

communities.

For Dominion, this includes Good Neighbour Agreements

that indicate responsibilities and expectations between

the Group and its residents and strategies for tackling

low-level anti-social

behaviour.

To find out more

Aicha Kassoul 0207 569 7005

aicha.kassoul@dominionhg.co.uk

12

Member’s News

13

Uniting to tackleanti-socialbehaviour

Housing associations across Sefton have joined forces to

help combat anti-social behaviour and hate crime. The

new group, known as the Registered Social Landlords

Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, draws members from a

number of housing associations. These include One

Vision, Riverside , Adactus, Cosmopolitan, Rodney, Evolve,

Breath Plus and Maritime.

The purpose of the forum is to develop effective

measures to tackle anti-social behaviour in Sefton; to

share information and good practice and to promote

joint working on specific issues.

The forum will act as an information outlet to help

organisations apply and implement the Government’s

agenda for community improvement through initiatives

like the Respect Standard for Housing Management. It

will also encourage the development of best practice to

enhance community safety and to combat and reduce

anti-social behaviour.

The forum draws together a wide range of bodies

including Sefton Council, the Police and statutory and

voluntary agencies to work closely to build sound

working relationships to effect real change.

Recent statistics show that the partnership is already

seeing results having recently secured 11 injunctions

against individuals in Sefton identified as causing anti-

social behaviour; with three of these including exclusion

orders preventing the individual from entering certain

areas and/or

properties.

Like to knowmore then contact:

Joe Mullis, One Vision Housing

0845 140 1234.

mhs homeswin case at courtof appeal

mhs homes and residents in Chatham are celebrating

after the Court of Appeal upheld an outright

possession order that had been brought against a

nuisance tenant in November 2007.

The tenant has made her neighbours lives a nightmare

for the last nine years. They suffered at the hands of

the 51 year old, who the court was told has a

personality disorder. She subjected her neighbours to

verbal abuse, harassment and intimidation, all of which

lead to one neighbour selling his house and moving

from the area because he could not cope.

Despite mhs homes efforts to work with the tenant

over a number of years, offering the appropriate

support and advice she refused to change her

behaviour.

In November 2007 over two days,Maidstone county

court heard from witnesses that had been affected by

the nuisance behaviour, and the judge granted an

outright possession order.The tenant appealed against

this decision and in March the case was heard at the

court of appeal.

Lord Justice Tuckey said “Ultimately, the question of

whether an outright possession order should be made

is very much one for the trial judge, particularly in a

case such as this, because the court has to strike a

balance between the interest of the tenant, the

landlord and the other tenants. In this case it seems to

me that the

decision to make

the order was

plainly right”

Like to knowmore then contact:

Georgina Messenger 01634 354273

Georgina.messenger@mhs.org.uk

Member’s News

S222 used to tackleanti social nuisancetelephone calls.

Leicester City Council used the S222 Local Government Act to

obtain an injunction against a female resident who repeatedly

called the 999 emergency services when drunk.

The defendant was often aggressive and verbally abusive towards

the emergency services who responded to the calls so police

officers also had to attend. She caused distress to local residents

when drunk by being verbally abusive, shouting, screaming and

threatening people. She claimed illness and demanded

ambulances come to her property. The majority of times the

ambulance crews attended, she refused to go to hospital, didn’t

need any medical treatment or left the hospital refusing to be seen

by medical staff.

In a year, the defendant made 278 unnecessary calls to the 999

number so Leicestershire Constabulary contacted the Council.

The Council obtained an Interim Order and then a Final Order with

a Power of Arrest attached.

In a two year injunction, the defendant was forbidden from

causing nuisance or annoyance to anyone in the City of Leicester;

from using or threatening violence towards anyone in the City,

from using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to

anyone in the City.

She was also ordered not to be drunk on any public highway or

other public place in the City and, crucially, she was ordered not to

make telephone calls to any of the emergency services unless the

situation was an emergency as would be deemed an emergency

by a reasonable sober person.

The Judge making the order stated that he believed that, without

the order, what was inevitable was that “you are going to call out

the ambulance service and they will be attending your calls

instead of someone who really needs it which could result in a

fatality.“

The defendant has breached the order four times. After suspended

sentences, giving her the chance to seek help with her alcohol

abuse (which she failed to do),

the Court sentenced her to

four months in custody.

14

Like to knowmore then contact:

Caroline Frith

Caroline.Frith@Leicester.gov.uk

ASBForuminWales

Wales andWest HA, in conjunction with other

RSLs in Wales established a forum in late

2006. The aim of the forum was to focus on

Wales based ASB practitioners needs –

enabling the sharing of best practice,

resources and experiences in tackling ASB. In

addition, the forum assists in giving members

confidence to take enforcement action

themselves rather than instructing solicitors.

Hate Crime Toolkit’ Funding

The forum has also been recently successful

in gaining match funding through theWelsh

Assembly Government’s Social Housing

Management Grant to develop a ‘Hate Crime

Toolkit’.

The aim of the toolkit is to provide a

framework of good practice with which to

successfully deal with cases of hate crime.

The toolkit will cover all aspects of dealing

with hate crime at every stage that a housing

association receiving a report of hate crime

will be expected to deal with:

• Taking and recording a report of hate

crime

• Addressing the needs of the victim in

respect of physical measures such as

target hardening equipment and support

that can be provided by either the

association or external agencies and

partners

• Legal actions that can be taken to remedy

the situation

• The role of the police

• The support that should be afforded to

victims and witnesses during any action

taken and beyond.

Member’s News

15

Takingswift action

Homezone Housing was forced to move

very quickly when a tenant breached an

interim injunction within 24 hours of it

being made.

The tenant had a recent history of anti-social

and nuisance behaviour; asking neighbours

to help her kill herself, threats to kill herself

to members of staff, and threats to other

residents with glass. There was also general

forms of nuisance including shouting and

screaming, banging on doors, ringing

doorbells, and repeatedly setting off fire

alarms.

She had made repeated threats of burning

herself, her flat, her neighbours’ flats and the

claimant’s offices. She had in fact burned

several items in her own flat and had

attempted to set fire to her sleeve.Three

medical assessments concluded that she

actually had no mental health problems, but

was attention seeking.

In February 2008, Anthony Collins Solicitors

LLP applied for a without notice injunction.

This was issued and made with a power of

arrest and served on the tenant on the same

day.

On the following day, the woman

attempted to enter managing agent’s offices

and threatened to burn employees and burn

the building down.The police were called, at

which point she confronted them, carrying a

piece of glass. She was arrested and

remanded in custody.

Before a District Judge in Walsall, an

Injunction was awarded fully in the terms

requested including an exclusion order from

the property. A Power of Arrest was also

granted in respect of the parts of the

Injunction relating to the exclusion, and

threats to harm.

Custodial sentencefor breach of ASBI

A judge has ordered that a 20 year old man serve an eight

month custodial sentence for breaching an Anti-Social

Behaviour Injunction.

The man,who was serving an 18 month jail term at Stoke Heath

Young Offenders Institute, for breaching his Anti-Social

Behaviour Order, appeared before Rhyl County Court to face an

application brought by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, part of

the Pennaf Housing Group.

The original Injunction was obtained in September 2006.The

conditions include banning him from entering Mochdre, causing

or engaging in conduct capable of causing nuisance or

annoyance and not to approach, threaten or intimidate Clwyd

Alyn tenants.

In the summer of 2007, he was back before the court and found

guilty of three breaches of the Injunction. He was sentenced to

six months custody suspended for two years and the Injunction

and Exclusion Order was extended until September 2009.

A further breach followed in September and he would have

faced court action at an earlier date had he not been brought

before the Crown court, convicted and imprisoned for breaching

his Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

The District Judge said “If I had to live near you, I would want

protection and I would be looking for people to slap an ASBO

on you.”

Deciding not to extend the Injunction’s terms and conditions

further as was requested, District Judge Farmer told him that “If

there are any further breaches, you are likely to face an ASBI and

exclusion far greater than what you have currently.”He added

that if brought before him again,“Your feet will not touch the

ground.”

Tracey Shenton, Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator for Clwyd

Alyn said:“As a housing association we will continue to take

robust action to protect our tenants and the wider public from

anti-social behaviour. This man has shown little or no regard for

these orders since they were imposed by the courts. Instead he

has chosen a way of life that sees him blatantly breaching these

orders within days, sometimes

hours of his release from

prison.”

Like to knowmore then contact:

Judith Gavin01745 536839

Judith.gavin@pennaf.co.uk

Member’s News

16

Stamping outracism and

bullying in schoolsThe London Borough of Bexley has joined a growing

number of Local Authorities piloting anti-bullying

software to identify and tackle racism and bullying in

their schools

By recording and monitoring incidents of harassment

within schools, teaching staff and local authority officials

will have a greater understanding of issues relating to

racism and bullying.

As well as recording details of the perpetrator, the

software also allows details of the by-standers and their

involvement in bullying incidents to be recorded.This is

important to schools as it enables members of staff to

identify all parties directly and indirectly involved in the

bullying.

Joining forces forthe rural roadshow

Staff from Three Valleys

Housing, Erewash

Borough Council,

Derbyshire Police and

Derbyshire Fire &

Rescue Services joined

forces for a rural

roadshow in March.

The Three Valleys Housing’s roadshow bus visited

Breadsall, Morley, Little Eaton and Stanley, to give

residents an opportunity to raise any concerns they

have.

Housing Officer Ian Kirk said:“We recognise that

residents in rural areas may not always find it easy to

visit our offices.We’ve teamed up with the Police, the

Council and the Fire and Rescue Service to make our

services more accessible to the community.”

Visitors to the roadshow were able to raise a host of

issues regarding their homes, tenancies and

neighbourhoods and find out about crime prevention

advice and

home fire safety

checks.

Employees andcontractors givenprotection

Midland Heart Limited applied for an Injunction Order

against a tenant as a result of him verbally abusing,

intimidating and showing aggression towards their

employees and contractors.

An on notice injunction was applied for and the first

hearing took place in November at which the tenant

indicated he wished to defend the proceedings. The

District Judge made an interim Injunction Order and

Power of Arrest to protect the association’s employees

and contractors until the matter was determined at trial.

At the trial in December, in his Defence, the tenant denied

many of the allegations made by the association and

admitted that he was an outspoken person. However, he

claimed that he was not rude but that sometimes he did

tend to lose his fuse and use foul language as he is only

“human”. Furthermore, because of multiple sclerosis, he

claimed he could not always contain his temper.

The District Judge did not accept the tenant’s contention

that he tended to be verbally abusive because of his

medical condition. She felt there could not be any excuse

for such behaviour despite the alleged disrepair to his

property. She felt the problems the tenant had with his

property could have been dealt with calmly and through

legal avenues if necessary.

An Injunction Order and Power of Arrest was made

against the tenant which expires in January 2009 together

with an Order that the tenant pays Midland Heart

Limited’s costs. The tenant has subsequently been served

with the Injunction Order and Power of Arrest and there

have been no further incidents. However, the tenant has

lodged a request for permission to appeal with the Court

of Appeal and this request is still to be determined on the

papers.

Yetunde Dania Partner at Shoosmiths says: “Employees

and contractors are entitled to carry out their daily duties

in the knowledge they will be safe. As this case

demonstrates, the courts are supportive in situations

where tenants do not behaviour courteously. ”

Like to knowmore then contact:

Phil Campbell, 0844 770 3500

phil.campbell@threevalleyshousing.com

Member’s News

17

JuniorWardensboost for

Beckenham estate

BeckenhamMP Jacqui Lait (right) with some of the junior

wardens

Young environmental champions who are working to

improve their local area received their stripes from

Beckenham MP Jacqui Lait. The nine youngsters, aged

eight to 12, from the Hackington estate in Beckenham,

received their junior warden certificates.

The youngsters have learned about environmental

issues, like how criminal damage, graffiti and fly-tipping

can have a negative impact on the area and on local

residents as part of the scheme.

They also took part in practical projects, like a mini-

recycling and litter picking group.Organised by

housing provider Broomleigh, the project was originally

set to last for four weeks but due to the enthusiasm of

the participants and course leaders it was extended to

seven weeks.

A Good Neighbourhood agreement, drawn up by local

residents, was also signed at the event.The agreement

includes standards which residents would like to see

kept up in the area, such as keeping communal areas

clean and tidy and treating neighbours with respect.

Liz Chambers, anti-social behaviour team leader at

Broomleigh, said she was delighted with both projects.

She said:“The people of Hackington are working hard

to foster a strong community spirit in their area and

these projects will really help to galvanise this. The

Good Neighbourhood Agreement sets out clearly what

standards people would like to see upheld in the area,

while the children on the estate are really excited about

being junior wardens.Their enthusiasm during the

sessions has been really encouraging to see.They have

learned about their estate and we hope it will instil a

sense of pride and inspire them to take ownership of

their local area.“

She added,“We’ve been very impressed by how well

the junior warden scheme has been received and plan

to roll this out to other Broomleigh estates over the

coming year. We’ve been working hard on Hackington

over the past two years and it’s been one of our priority

management areas. During this time,we’ve obtained

funding through the Safer Bromley Partnership to set

up a popular new community flat, as requested by the

residents. In addition, we provided funding to install a

CCTV system for the local residents in March 2007. The

residents have been really pleased with the impact this

has had on their local area and now attend events

regularly with their families.”

Mohamed Tejan-Kamara (one of Broomleigh HA's

NeighbourhoodWardens) with the JuniorWardens on

Hackington estate, Beckenham, Kent

Several teams from Broomleigh have helped set up the

junior warden scheme, including housing officers and

team leaders, tenancy service officers, neighbourhood

wardens and

community

investment

officers.

Like to knowmore then contact:

Liz Chambers

liz.chambers@broomleigh.org.uk

Member’s News

Making a differencein Torquay

Residents of Sussex Close in Torquay have been successfully

working with Westcountry Housing,Torbay Council Street

Wardens and the Police to tackle anti-social behaviour and

make their Close a better place to live.

Sussex Close has previously had problems with vandalism,

graffiti, drug dealing, verbal abuse from children and noise

nuisance. Westcountry does not tolerate anti-social behaviour

and so action was taken against a resident who was evicted in

Summer 2007 for this behaviour. She and her young male

friends had, under the influence of drugs and alcohol,

dominated and intimidated the entire Close over an 18 month

period.They verbally abused other residents, played loud

music and were a general nuisance till local residents bravely

came forward as witnesses.

Westcountry takes direct action as a last resort, using other

actions first; four Acceptable Behaviour Contracts have been

signed by other local youths, following their further nuisance

behaviour at the Close in the past few months.

Sussex Close has just been awarded a Community Award for

“the most improved area” in the

form of a cash prize of £100 - by

the Street Wardens and Torbay

Council!

Residents Emma Ayers, Cathy

Hudson and Kirsty Higgs wanted

to unite the community to prevent

further problems and so they organised a community project

and a Community Service Volunteers Day.

They and other residents leafleted the estate about their plans

to tidy up their Close as part of ‘Make a Difference Day’.

Twenty adults and lots of kids came along on the day. The

result was a very clean estate and a much stronger sense of

community through the shared work. Community pride is

now higher and one resident has set up a Neighbourhood

Watch scheme.

Emma’s daughter, Charlotte Peters, (10) signed up to be a

Junior Street Warden.This opportunity is available (through

Torbay Council) to all

children aged

between 8 and 16.

Like to knowmore then contact:

Vanessa Gray, 01803 217500

vanessa.gray@westcountryha.org.uk

Residentsrelief

A closure order and eviction eventually brought

relief to residents who were suffering with drug

related ASB

Residents of a quiet estate were in the unfortunate

position of having to cope with serious anti-social

behaviour connected to drug use and dealing

taking place in and around one particular flat. All

but two residents were too scared to come forward

and supply the Housing Officer with the details of

the perpetrator. Despite this major hurdle, the

Housing Officer and Anti-Social Behaviour

Coordinator from the Council were able to work

co-operatively with the police. The Housing Officer

also kept in close contact with the residents and

filtered the complaints into his own Court

statement, whilst protecting the residents'

identities.

The police obtained enough evidence to be

granted a Closure Order for three months and the

Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinator was able to

make a referral early enough for a possession

hearing to be set within the Order period.

However, the tenant believed that she had grounds

to oppose the Council's application and the case

was adjourned to a later date. Owing to legal

technicalities, the case was adjourned a further two

times before it was finally heard almost 12 months

later.

After a full day in Court, the District Judge

announced that H&F Homes and the Anti-social

Behaviour Unit had clearly proven that serious

breaches of tenancy had taken place for a

sustained period. The Judge also highlighted that

the "hearsay" evidence supplied by two of the

residents added significant weight to the direct

evidence given by the officers in Court. Possession

was awarded within 14 days together with almost

full costs of

£5,000.Like to knowmore then contact:

Kate Boulton 020 8753 4817

kate.boulton@hfhomes.org.uk

18

Member’s News

19

Wigan team winspolice Oscar

A team,which includes tenants and residents, Greater

Manchester Police,Wigan and Leigh Housing andWigan

Council, scooped the Chief Constable's Excellence Award

for Community Focus - just 18 months after it was set up.

The pioneering partnership, which works out of Marsh

Green library, was praised for going the extra mile and

making a real difference to the lives of local people.

Now council, police and housing chiefs have vowed to

use the lessons learned to benefit other communities

across theWigan borough.The team has worked

together to tackle concerns raised by people living in

Marsh Green. A raft of successful initiatives has included:

� A crack down on off licences selling alcohol to under

age drinkers

� Issuing contact cards to youths causing anti-social

behaviour

� Setting up a new youth club

� Clearing overgrown areas on the estate where youths

were known to congregate

� Seizing and crushing off road motorbikes

� New lay-bys to prevent vehicles causing an

obstruction

� Gating off garage sites to prevent fly tipping

� Removing graffiti

� Holding a Lancashire evening to break down barriers

between generations.

Ashley Crumbley, chief executive of Wigan and Leigh

Housing said: "The Marsh Green project is an excellent

example of how communities working together with

front line staff can tackle deep rooted issues such as

anti-social behaviour. We are pleased the police and

council are now applying some of these approaches

elsewhere in the borough, and we will be delighted to

help out.We have invested nearly £260 million in recent

years in transforming the appearance of our estates.We

are delighted to see the community, police and other

front line staff, such as street cleaners and estate

caretakers all working together to create better

neighbourhoods." Chief Inspector Bob Pell said: "It was

vital that local residents could easily access the team

within the heart of the estate to encourage them to

bring concerns forward.The real success of working

together in this way meant that we were able to mobilise

quickly and address the problems at source.This has

raised confidence and

encouraged local people

to report issues affecting

their daily lives."

Like to knowmore then contact:

KathrynWalsh 01942 486831

Residentspraise work

Commitment by Housing Hartlepool’s Tenancy Relations

and Enforcement Team has seen residents and partners

praise their work after a number of successful injunctions

in recent months.

Local residents were relieved when two nuisance

brothers reign of intimidation finally came to an end

thanks to the team.The tenant’s sons were causing

damage to cars, riding mini-motos, using threatening

behaviour, and causing a nuisance.

Natalie Gooding from the team worked with local police

out of hours to witness behaviour first hand in order for

two Anti-social Behaviour Injunctions to be granted.

She said:“People were understandably concerned of the

consequences of coming forward and giving evidence.

“We wanted to take this fear away by building trusting

relationships with residents that allowed us to be

granted our biggest ever injunction zones.”

The Team,which also includes members Sam Vasey and

Andy Elvidge, received a Cleveland Police District

Commanders commendation for work to reduce anti-

social behaviour in the Rift House area of the town.

They were nominated by Neighbourhood Police Officers

for their work to engage young people on Acceptable

Behaviour Contracts, which amended their behaviour.

Member’s News

20

New Powers forNeighbourhoodWardens

Neighbourhood wardens in

east Manchester are being

given new powers to crack

down on litter dropping and

dog fouling.

From March, Eastlands Homes’

15 neighbourhood wardens

had the authority to issue fixed

penalty notices in Clayton,

Beswick, Openshaw and Gorton.

“Residents in east Manchester

tell us they are fed up with

people who dump litter and

rubbish on their streets and

that dog mess is a real

concern,” said Sheila Doran, Chief Executive of Eastlands

Homes. “We can now do something about this as our

wardens will soon be able to take robust action against

anyone who behaves in this way.

“Tenants and residents have been pressing us to deal with

litter and dog mess. Since then, our staff have worked closely

with Manchester City Council and the warden service

advisory panel to look at the possibility of using the powers.”

Anyone caught dropping litter or allowing their dog to foul

in a public area will be given a fixed penalty notice. This

requires the offender to pay a fine of £50, which increases to

£80 after 14 days. If the fine is still not paid they will face a

court appearance.

“Most residents in east Manchester take great pride in their

communities and work hard to make them as attractive as

possible. That’s why it’s so disheartening to see people

showing such a lack of respect.”

Although the powers came into force in March, no fixed

penalty notices were issued during the first month to allow

time for residents to find out about the wardens’ extra

authority. During this period, anyone who dropped litter or

allowed their dog to foul were instead given a warning and

told about the new powers.

.

Respect OurCommunityAwardsA milestone has been reached by the First Choice

Homes Oldham’s - Respect Our Community

Awards scheme with the announcement of the

first awards.

The Better Neighbourhoods Team has worked

hard over the last few months promoting the

awards to tenants and residents around Oldham

and the first panel meeting was held in February

to assess the bids.

Failsworth has benefitted by nearly £2,000 for the

Lynton andWalkers Respect Our Commnunity

Hall. This project needed theatre equipment so

that events could be staged in the community.

More ‘professional performances’will now be

performed and, hopefully, with equipment more

people will get involved, particulary in

production and stagecraft.

The Clarkwell Community Linking Project was

successful in securing an award of more than

£1,000.This money will help Clarkwell tenants

and residents meet their neighbours living in

Limeside to discuss issues around, race, religion

and other topics that are important to both

communities.

The Asha Girls' Group secured funding and

resources for their recycling project.The group

will be assisted with their ideas around

developing clothes made from recycled material

to be showcased at a fashion show and for art

created from recycled material, which will be

displayed around the borough.

These awards are not just about money but

about using the resource bank that the Respect

Our Community Awards has built up over the

months to help people accomplish their ideas.

Like to knowmore then contact:

JayneWinterbottom, 0161 770 4588.

Member’s News

21

Films to encouragechildren and

young peopleAn innovative new project that aims to tackle anti-social

behaviour before it starts has been launched in Kirklees,

West Yorkshire.

Two films have been produced to encourage children

and young people from 8 to 18 to think about the

consequences of their actions and to foster a sense of

respect and responsibility.

The films have been developed by Kirklees

Neighbourhood Housing working with Kirklees Council

and an independent production company.

They play out typical scenarios that children and young

people find themselves in, firstly as part of a

neighbourhood“gang”, and for the older audience,

moving into their own place.

The films feature young local actors and have a street

style that audiences can relate to.The production

company worked alongside teachers and youngsters

throughout the scripting, filming and editing, to make

sure the key messages are conveyed appropriately and

effectively for both target age groups.

The films also include teaching materials to stimulate

debate and discussion as part of the PSHE (physical,

social, health and emotional well being) curriculum. All

Kirklees schools will receive their own copy.

Brett Dye, headmaster at Kirkheaton primary school said

“This is an ideal resource to develop the social and

emotional aspects of young people’s learning – I like the

way children are encouraged to see how they might

make other people feel.”

Cora Carter MBE, chair of Kirklees Neighbourhood

Housing, said “We are sure that students will enjoy these

DVDs and see that they have to “Give respect to Get

Respect”.

Cllr Khizar Iqbal, the lead member for safer, stronger

communities, said “Kirklees was one of the first areas in

the country to sign up to the Government’s Respect

Agenda”. Like to knowmore then contact:

Karen Oates 01484 416439

Aiming High

Like to knowmore then contact:

Mike Holt 0161 331 2317

A initiative funded by Denton South Partnership and the

Primary Care Trust (PCT) has brought a new meaning to

"Moving On Up" for young people in Tameside.

Over four weeks,Tenancy Enforcement Officers from New

Charter Housing Trust together with the Community Safety

Unit, the PCT, the police and PCSOs took the group along to

AwesomeWalls in Stockport for challenging sessions climbing

rock walls.

The main aim of the initiative was to work with young people

on the brink of causing serious anti-social behaviour and give

them an opportunity to learn new skills and build new

confidence. As well as learning how to use the rock climbing

equipment and facing up to the challenges that climbing

brings, they had sessions on First Aid training and healthy

living.The initiative also provided a fantastic opportunity to

break down barriers that can exist between the young people

and the police. It proved to be a great leveller for all those

involved having to deal with their own fears!

Member’s News

22

Lifestyle Education & Assistance Programme

It started overa chat in the pub

A chance discussion in a pub lead to Sentinel setting up

its Lifestyle Education & Assistance Programme (LEAP).

“Over a drink in the pub a friend of mine told me that

he had been stopped by the police for speeding. He

explained that they had given him a choice, take the

points and a fine or attend a course to learn about the

effects of speeding” said Steve Thorn from Sentinel

Housing.

LEAP has developed into a programme combining

enforcement with education, support and signposting.

It is not a family intervention scheme in the true sense

of the term but there are mechanisms in place to

provide further support for families. There are many

similar schemes but the difficulty is getting

perpetrators to attend without already having taken

some form of costly legal action to obtain an order. The

key element of LEAP is that it can get the commitment

from perpetrators in the form of an agreement to avoid

legal action being taken.

How tenants get onto the scheme

The process begins when a housing officer identifies

breaches of tenancy that could be dealt with through

the scheme. These breaches may not necessarily be

ASB but may be related to rent arrears,maintenance

issues, gas servicing or any other tenancy breach.

A letter is sent to the tenant confirming that they can

avoid further enforcement action by taking part in the

programme and engaging with their housing officer to

change their behaviour. If they refuse to take part they

are informed that enforcement action will continue.

The beauty of the programme is that it is equally

effective in tackling the minor recurring breaches as it is

in dealing with persistent perpetrators who are being

considered for legal action.

The LEAP Programme

The LEAP programme consists of a day’s training

covering all aspects of tenancy management together

with a tailored follow-up package of support using

partner agencies providing floating support, parenting

skills, homecare advice and other advice on such issues

as drugs or alcohol.

Following attendance at a training day the perpetrator

will sign a LEAP Agreement, and the prohibitions

necessary to avoid further enforcement action.The

agreement and any support package that complements

it is closely monitored by the housing officer.

Initial indications are that this is going to be a

successful initiative and a welcome addition to

Sentinel’s ASB toolkit.

LEAP in Action

Miss M from Basingstoke is a single parent in her

twenties with a history of rent arrears and recent

complaints against her relating to noise issues. She

agreed to taking part in LEAP and since attending the

course has kept a consistent payment record. There

have also been no further complaints about noise.

She said :

• “It was really good, people made me feel

comfortable and I felt I could I could talk.”

• “It made me understand my tenancy and I realised

what could happen.”

• “I didn’t just learn about my tenancy but it helped

me to manage my money”

• “My rent arrears are now up to date and I am paying

on time. I don’t let my friends make any noise now

because I understand what might happen.”

The comments are repeated by other participants.

LEAP has provided us with an effective way of handling

tenancy breaches without the need for expensive legal

action. It has also shown that family intervention and

support for perpetrators is not just something for the

local authorities and big players.

Why not mull it over?

“By looking at the good practice that is already out

there and tweaking it to suit your own organisations

circumstances even the smaller housing providers can

bolster up their toolkits.“ added Steve. “Get out and

about and see what others are doing. Mull it over with

colleagues over a couple of pints, it worked for us.!”

Member’s News

23

Housing Act 1996 Injunctions

A very versatileremedy

Sheffield Homes Anti-social Behaviour unit has recently

used Housing Act 1996 Act injunctions to tackle unusual

problems.The Injunctions have been approved by the

local County Court, indicating that their use as a remedy

to many problems that cause others nuisance and

annoyance.

Owner Occupier

A Sheffield Homes tenant complained about her

neighbour, an owner occupier, piling household rubbish

in their own garden and failing to maintain the grass and

hedges within it. The owner occupier's garden was a

complete eyesore. Cardboard boxes, fridges, sofas,

vacuum cleaners and animal cages filled both the front

and back gardens and there was an infestation of mice.

The tenant and officers at Sheffield Homes spoke with

the owner occupier to ask them to sort out the garden.

Written and verbal requests were not effective and the

state of the gardens steadily got worse.

An injunction was applied for against the owner occupier

by the City Council on the basis that the state of the

gardens at the owned property was causing their tenant

nuisance and annoyance. Before the date of the hearing,

the owner occupier cleared the rubbish out of the

gardens and there was a considerable improvement to

the state of the garden.

The court granted the injunction,which is to remain in

force for the next two years, and ensures that the owner

occupier keeps their garden free of rubbish and tidies

the grass and hedges.

Violent ex-partner

A tenant of Sheffield Homes complained to the Council

that an ex-partner who had been a frequent visitor to her

home during a brief relationship, was harassing her. His

permanent address was in another part of the city.The

tenant had ended the relationship with her partner

because of his criminal behaviour.

Her partner did not accept the end of the relationship

and continued to threaten to harm and kill her over the

phone and was abusive about her child, who was born

during a previous relationship.

Sheffield Homes applied for a without notice injunction

basis to keep the ex partner away from our tenant and

her child. The Court agreed and made the injunction to

last for 18 months.The ex-partner was given an

opportunity to attend court after the order was made to

set aside the Order, but did not do so.

Lack ofengagement

leads to evictionA tenant who persistently failed to engage with H&F

Homes and the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (ABSU) was

recently evicted following a closure order.

H&F Homes and the ASBU were advised when the

tenant moved into the property that he had a history of

drug use, coupled with anti-social behaviour at his

previous on-licence property.

Therefore, they tried to engage with him from the start

of his secure tenancy. Numerous attempts were made

at contact to ensure all relevant support could be put

in place and that the tenant understood his

responsibilities.

These attempts failed and the tenant was then left

written warnings of what would happen to the tenancy

if the agreement was breached. No complaints were

received for several months.

Disappointingly, complaints gradually started to come

in relating to drugs and anti social behaviour and

further attempts at contact with the tenant were made

which were ignored.

The Police were also informed and the excellent

information sharing relationship between H&F Homes ,

the ASBU and the Police led to a Closure Order being

obtained.

The property was sealed and the Court granted H&F

Homes an order

possession in

February 2008.

Like to knowmore then contact:

Kate Boulton 020 8753 4817

kate.boulton@hfhomes.org.uk

Sponsor

24

Make sure that youshare your newswith us

This is your newsletter and why not ensure that you

share your news on how your organisation is

handling many of the complex issues of

anti-social behaviour.

Tell us about your new innovations, your

success stories, feedback from your

communities - just to name a few.

What we need is:-

� Articles, ideally around 200 to 300

words in length

� High quality copy of your organi-

sation’s logo (If you are not sure or

speak to the person who handles your publicity)

� Photographs, where applicable, that support your

articles.

All photographs need to be high quality to ensure

they can be reproduced.

� Your contact details if you would like other members

to be able to contact you for more details.

Next Issue & Deadline

The next issue will be distributed by the 5th

September. The deadline for all articles is 1st

August - items received after this date are unlikely

to be included.

Due to space restrictions, articles received early will take

priority.

Please email articles, logos and photographs to:-

nick@slcng.org.uk

PoplarHARCA andpartner RSLs

ReACT to anti socialbehaviourSeven social housing landlords in the London Borough of

Tower Hamlets have adopted a partnership approach to

record and share information about ASB

in the Borough.

The consortium, ably led by Sarah Castro,

Community Safety Manager at Poplar

HARCA, invited competitive tenders from

a number of specialist suppliers.

Following an evaluation exercise they chose ReACT

which went live as a 135 user system on 1st April. The

three year renewable contract is hosted by Electronic

Business Systems.

24/7 access

Each of the partner landlords has internet access to

ReACT 24/7. Whilst cases and procedures for dealing

with ASB are kept separate for each organisation it is a

simple matter to share information about cases and

incidents and to produce reports and statistics either

individually or collectively.

Partnership members

In addition to Poplar HARCA the Tower Hamlets

Partnership members are: Tower Hamlets Community

Housing Trust, Spitalfields HA, Bethnal Green & Victoria

Park HA, One Housing, Newlon, Eastend Homes.

Fully up to date

The ongoing formal partnership that ReACT has with

both HouseMark and Social Landlords

Crime and Nuisance Group ensures

that the system is kept fully up to date

with best practice and legal

requirements.With some 70 social

housing landlords and over 800 front

line ASB staff having access, ReACT is now considered the

market leader in dedicated ASB software.

Like to knowmore

For information about ReACT contact

Mike Blomer on 0121 384 2513

email: mikeb@e-b-s.co.uk

go to www.e-b-s.co.uk/react

nuisance newsThe quarterly newsletter of the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group

Issue 44 Dec 2007

This issue includes articles fromthe following:-Boston MayflowerBowlee Park HousingBromford HG

CalicoCambridge CouncilChelmer Housing PartnershipColchester Borough HomesCross Keys HomesDepartment for Children, Schoolsand FamiliesENCAMS

Erimus HousingGentoo SunderlandHarvest HGHome OfficeHomes for IslingtonHammersmith & Fulham HomesLeasowe Community HomesLeeds Federated HALocal Government AssociationMansfield DCMaritime HANew Progress HANottingham Community HousingPartington HAPoplar HARCARedditch BC

Sheffield HomesSolihull Community HousingSouth Essex HomesSouth Liverpool HousingSovereign HA

Stockport HomesThree Valleys HousingWhiteheads SolicitorsWillow Part Housing Trust

This issue

ocial LandlordsCrime and Nuisance Group

New partnership withmajor software companyGreat news for all ourmembers, we haveanother partner onboard, ElectronicBusiness Systems Ltd(EBS).

EBS is a majorsoftware companythat developed

ReACT, the awardwinning dedicatedanti social behaviourrecording,monitoring and case management database used by many of our members.

We have worked with EBS for a number of years and the new partnership will

ensure the continuing development of the ReACT software. We will provide

expert advice and guidance on the latest developments in ASB. This will

benefit both existing and potential users by ensuring accurate compilation of

the data requirements of the Performance Improvement Toolkit for the

Respect Standard for Housing Management.EBS will provide the latest news for Nuisance News and give advice on

software developments. It will also actively sponsor our Group to its existing

clients at exhibitions and conferences where we do not have a major

presence.The agreement was signed at the National Housing Federation Annual

Conference and Exhibition held at the ICC in Birmingham.

If you would like to know more about ReACT, then please see the

advertisement on the back page or visit www.e-b-s.co.uk

Pictured are Roger Griffiths,Chairman SLCNG, and Mike Blomer, ReACT,with the

agreement. Looking on are Chris Powell ReACT, Peter Jackson,Managing Director

SLCNG, Steve Macartney, ReACT

nuisance newsThe quarterly newsletter of the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group

Issue 43 Sep 2007

This issue includes articles fromthe following members:-Acis GroupAnthony Collins SolicitorsBirmingham City CouncilBolton at HomeCalico HA

Camden CouncilChelmer HACherwell HACoast & Country HousingCobbettsColchester Borough HomesCommunities & Local GovernmentCross Keys HomesDane Housing GroupDerby Homes

Drum HAHampshire ConstabularyHarvest Housing GroupHelena HousingHouseMark

KLEEGMouchel ParkmanNew Charter HANew Progress HAPennine Housing 2000Plymouth County CouncilSouth Essex HomesSovereign HA

University of BirminghamWales andWest HAWest Midlands PoliceWhiteheadsWorcester Community HA

This issue

ocial LandlordsCrime and Nuisance Group

Good business for SLCNG atHarrogateAny members visiting our standat the CIH conference atHarrogate in June would havenoticed the enormous amount

of interest – not just fromexisting members but alsopotential members.We were pleased to have legalexperts fromWhiteheads on hand to give free advice to our visitors – a good

sign for future cooperation between our two organisations! Plans are already

in hand to have a better (but not bigger!) stand for 2008.

Many useful contacts were made and a great deal of follow-up work is in

hand to try to turn those contacts into membership applications. We also had

the chance to talk to colleagues from Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and

New Zealand.Peter Jackson was invited to chair a conference session on the subject of the

SLCNG/Housemark Toolkit with presentations from Steve Osborne

(Housemark), Peter Fenn (CLG), Sue Roach (Community Gateway) and Ian

McGibbon (Birmingham BASBU). Some 130 delegates attended. The launch of

the Toolkit is expected in August 2007 and a programme of seminars on the

Toolkit has been organised for the Autumn,which will be jointly hosted by

SLCNG and Housemark. Further details appear on page 3 of this edition.

As a result of some hard work with our web designers, visitors to the stand

had a preview of our new website – which we expect to be up and running in

September.Our new version of Nuisance News attracted much favourable comment.

The print-run was increased by 50% in anticipation of the extra demand.

It seemed that hardly any delegate left the conference without a copy!

As always, excellent networking took place with existing and potential

partners, including TPAS, CIH, Housemark,Tribal and CSHS.

Everyone involved with the stand was relieved to see out the week, but we’re

all looking forward to 2008!