Funding worth £2 million will support Scottish projects that bring together health, housing, and social work professionals with the aim of providing targeted help for troubled families to 'break the cycle' of antisocial behaviour.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said the projects would provide intensive supervision and intervention for individuals and families involved in antisocial behaviour.
As well as bringing together services, families referred to the projects will be set strict targets for behavioural improvements and be subject to sanctions if the targets are not achieved. The projects will run in the following local authority areas: South Lanarkshire, Falkirk, and Perth and Kinross.
The aim is to learn from the Dundee Families Project, run by the children's charity NCH Scotland in partnership with Dundee City Council, which has earned an international reputation for its work in providing intensive 'wrap around' care for families housed in a core block of flats.
On a visit to the Dundee Families Project, Ms Jamieson said: "A small number of families are responsible for most, and usually the most serious, antisocial behaviour in each community. Their behaviour has a disproportionate affect on the community in which they live. Dealing with their problems, therefore, helps not just those families, but the families who live next door, on the same stair, in the same street.
"Many of those involved in anti-social behaviour have multiple and complex economic and social problems - and it is only by addressing those problems that we'll get longer term solutions for communities.
"I accept that historically there has been an over-emphasis on supporting 'difficult' families, and insufficient attention given to supervision and ultimate sanctions if support and supervision are rejected. What this has meant is that the rights of individuals in the family have taken precedence over the rights of the community.
"The Dundee Families Project (DFP) shifted that balance with strict criteria for entry into the programme, strict rules once families are in the programme, and clear sanctions if families refuse to engage with the programme. I am keen to see whether this model can be adapted in different ways while maintaining success rates. That is why we are funding variations in a further three local authority areas.
"These projects will run for the next two years, but their success will be lasting. I want other local authorities to consider whether there are lessons from these projects that could be adopted for dealing with antisocial behaviour in their areas. By bringing all relevant partners together, we can make a real difference to turning around lives and creating a safer, stronger Scotland."
The funding is taken from a pot of £130 million that has been available to tackle antisocial behaviour from 2004-05 to 2007-08.
The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) called on the Government to spread best practice to help communities overcome the blight of abandoned housing.
While the Association supports the Government's investment programme aimed at reviving collapsed housing markets in the North and Midlands, a new policy statement was published that highlights room for improvement in some areas.
The housing market renewal programme, which aims to secure a more even spread of economic activity and prosperity across England, has been criticised for relying too much on demolition, undervaluing the heritage of older buildings, and a lack of community consultation.
The TCPA supports the Government's aim to revitalise areas in decline, but cautions that evidence so far shows communities need to feel more involved in the process.
The Association recommends that in order to ensure people have their say, and it is heeded, that community consultation and participation should be a more stringent funding condition. The Association also recommends the programme should be flexible enough to respond to changing circumstances, should prioritise refurbishment where possible, and that compensation should be adequate to ensure residents are not priced out of their local neighbourhood.
In addition, no building should be considered for demolition without a careful refurbishment appraisal first. Demolition should then only be considered if local circumstances and thorough public consultation show it is both necessary and supported.
TCPA Vice-Chair Tony Fyson said: "The Association is in favour of renewing housing markets in areas of low demand and supports the government in establishing a pathfinder programme.
"It also recognises that practice varies from area to area and with government encouragement is evolving positively.
"It is now appropriate to address the areas of concern identified in our statement by publishing good practice guidance."
Wulvern Housing installed state-of-the-art door security on its Derby Docks Estate as part of a £100,000 improvements programme. Residents have been issued with special door entry fobs, ensuring that only they can gain access to the buildings.
A Long Eaton resident who took a stand to end months of noise nuisance saw her efforts recognised when she scooped a national award. The tenant won the Respect Award for Taking a Stand for working with Three Valleys Housing to tackle a nuisance neighbour at Erewash Court, Long Eaton. When a neighbour moved in and started making life a misery, she started to keep a diary of events and her evidence became a vital part of the Association's court action.
Sunderland Housing Group announced plans to contribute towards a £2 million investment in a new city academy, as part of a joint investment with Sunderland Council and Bob Murray, Chair of Sunderland Football Club. The Group sees an investment in education as being a vital part of community regeneration. Its proposals have been sent to the Department for Education and Skills for consideration.
Selby District Council celebrated the success of its graffiti removal machine, which was introduced last autumn and has been used to clean up public spaces such as bus shelters, public buildings and other areas. The machine can power-clean, remove chewing gum, and clear footpaths, and is said to tackle antisocial behaviour as well as enhance the street scene.
Pilot 'Text Zones' were launched by a housing association that is aiming to encourage residents to report antisocial behaviour and vandalism on their estates. Peterborough-based Cross Keys Homes put up Text Zone signs in troublesome spots of the City, allowing residents who witness antisocial behaviour to alert the Association by sending a text giving details. The areas being piloted first have previously been known targets for vandalism.
Anti-social behaviour manager, Joan Tibbs said: "This is an excellent scheme and we are hoping that it is going to prove to be a huge success so we can roll it out across other parts of the city. A text message takes about 30 seconds to receive allowing us to look into the matter almost straight away. We also hope the scheme will encourage more young people and children to get involved as in today's world many prefer to text instead of telephone."
Texts will be charged at standard rates and will help Cross Keys Homes tackle issues such as graffiti, abandoned cars, and nuisance behaviour.
A new practical guide was published to help housing workers, tenants, and councillors work together to address the problems caused by antisocial behaviour. The completely updated second edition of Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Action Frameworks is published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Chartered Institute of Housing.
The action frameworks outlined in the guide address the differing needs of policy makers and practitioners and can be used to improve strategic planning, staff development and training, for day-to-day reference, and to improve working between staff and residents within an organisation.
The first module is designed for councillors, board members and tenants; the second for staff of housing associations. Each takes the form of a step-by-step process for identifying problems and for developing ways of dealing with them.
The two modules consist of key questions, practical fact sheets, case studies, activities and links to websites with supporting material. They can be used individually or as a group resource to be shared with colleagues.
Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Action Frameworks, Second Edition, by Judy Nixon and Caroline Hunter is published by the Chartered Institute of Housing for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It is available from CIH publications on 02476 851700 or at pubs@cih.org priced £25+p&p.
