Home Secretary John Reid launched a 10-strong national Respect Squad of trouble-shooters, who will be sent in to tackle anti-social behaviour hotspots across England and Wales.
Local authorities, police chiefs, councillors, and MPs will be able to call on the squad for extra support where local problems are proving tough to crack.
The squad, led by the assistant director of the Government's Respect Task Force, Alex Rhind, is made up of frontline staff from the police and local authorities with experience of successfully quashing anti-social behaviour.
Visiting Leytonstone in east London, Mr Reid said the squad would offer the chance of a swift resolution to challenging problems, where other channels of action appear to have been exhausted.
The squad will also intervene where evidence demonstrates insufficient action has been taken by local agencies.
Mr Reid said: "Anti-social behaviour ruins lives and fragments communities, particularly those in some of the most deprived areas of our country.
"The Government's new Respect Squad will ensure there is no let up in tackling anti-social behaviour, until every community in every part of the country gets a swift and effective response to their problem.
"We should and will be unremitting in our efforts to drive up standards of behaviour and enforce a culture of respect, for the benefit of all."
The team will be appointed to investigate a case and make recommendations for progress to the chair of the Crime Disorder Reduction Partnership. A copy of the squad's assessment will be made available to the public, keeping them informed on progress and reinforcing residents' power to demand action.
The Government's respect co-ordinator, Louise Casey, said: "A full range of powers is available to tackle anti-social behaviour and the majority of agencies are doing an excellent job in facing the issues head-on. However, there is much more work still to be done and on occasion agencies need help using these powers.
"Those experiencing the daily grind of anti-social behaviour deserve a prompt and effective response. The Respect Squad will assist with this while creating a public record so local people can demand answers if action is not taken."
The founding members of the Respect Squad are:
Source: www.24dash.com
New research highlighted the vital contribution that housing associations make to the economy and quality of life in the North of England. Northern Lights, commissioned by the National Housing Federation North and funded by the Housing Corporation, was launched at the Chartered Institute of Housing Conference in Harrogate.
The report reveals that housing association investment in the North goes far beyond bricks and mortar. The North is an area with exceptional potential to combine a world-class economy with a superb quality of life. Northern Lights show that housing associations are key players in making this opportunity a reality.
By the end of the period 2003 to 2008, housing associations in the North of England will have invested over £1.5 billion in the regeneration of homes. A further £133 million will be invested in non-housing property, such as community centres, schools, and surgeries.
The contribution of housing associations is vital. With almost thirteen and a half million residents, the North contains over a quarter of England's housing, but more than a third of the country's social housing. The North also has almost three-quarters of England's 200 most deprived wards.
For a copy of the report, visit the Housing Corporation website at www.housingcorp.gov.uk or the National Housing Federation website at www.housing.org.uk.
£2 million funding has been allocated to help make sure refugees play a vital role in Scotland's communities. The funding is targeted at locally-based projects designed to support cross community integration, helping organisations and communities in their efforts to bring people together, tackle racism and promote equality.
The Race Equality, Integration and Community Support Fund (REICSF) is to be allocated between 36 projects across Scotland from 2006-08 and Ethnic Minority Grant Scheme projects.
Funding through the Scottish Refugee Integration Fund (SRIF) has been strengthening support for refugees and asylum seekers and the communities in which they live since 2003. Now 21 projects will benefit from over £600,000 over the next year.
The projects to receive funding under REICSF include:
The projects to receive funding under SRIF include:
The Race Equality, Integration and Community Support Fund was announced in November 2005 as part of the immediate actions being put in place as a result of the Executive's Race Equality Review.
