Awareness day is new way of tackling ASB

 People experiencing anti-social behaviour (ASB) were brought together to share their experiences and explore new ways of dealing with the problem.

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) invited people who experience the negative effects of ASB in their neighbourhoods and residents who have already stood as witnesses in legal action against perpetrators to an anti-social behaviour awareness training day.

It is the first time KHT has hosted such a day and it is hoped that by showing residents what they can expect from KHT’s ASB services and the court process, they will become more confident to report it and act as witnesses.

Terry Bonner, Operational Director of Landlord Services at KHT, said: “We work very hard to combat ASB in our communities and have had a lot of success, but we know there is more we could do and this session will help us greatly.

“One of the difficulties of dealing with ASB is the isolation and perceived vulnerability that people subject to ASB may face in standing up and confronting the issue. Enabling people to see that it is possible to successfully tackle ASB head on – by meeting people who have done that – can only serve to reduce those fears and strengthen our approach.”

Residents heard from Andy Spedding, ASB Housing Officer at KHT, Tenancy Enforcement Officer Caron Mallet and Jane Wilson Jones from the Knowsley Anti- Social Behaviour Unit about their roles.

They took part in workshops and discussions around their expectations from victim and witness support services and their own experiences of ASB as well as heard from a practicing solicitor about the evidence needed in ASB cases.

Caron Mallett, who organised the day, talked about the importance of KHT’s partnership working to tackle ASB with various agencies, and the tools available to KHT’s Tenancy Enforcement Team to deal with tenants causing ASB, from warnings right through to eviction.

She has been appointed as KHT’s new Victim and Witness Champion and is looking to set up a resident ASB support panel, where those suffering ASB can access community support and advice from those who have been through it, right up to court proceedings.

Caron said: “People are understandably afraid to speak out, but the more people that report a problem the more evidence there is against a perpetrator.

“The community is our main agent, without them we would not be able to build a case.”

Marie Wainwright attended the awareness day. She is the chairman of her residents association in Huyton and is often the first point of contact for residents who are suffering ASB and are too afraid to report it themselves.

She has been able to refer a problem a resident was having with a neighbour who was threatening him. KHT are now working with him and the perpetrator.

Marie, 73, said: “People won’t always pick up the phone because they are terrified the perpetrators will find out.

“KHT officers have been great whenever I have needed to contact them. It is important people have the confidence to come forward for help and know that something will be done to help them.”

If you would like to help set up a resident ASB support panel, contact Caron Mallett on 0151 290 7000.

People taking part in discussions during the ASB awareness day.