More Sheffield residents prepared to take a stand against anti-social behaviour

A report released today by Sheffield Homes reveals that it was called in to tackle 9489 cases of anti-social behaviour over the past year.

 

The figures, which show a 7% increase on last year, show that more people than ever before are prepared to take a stand against anti-social behaviour by speaking up against the perpetrators and coming forward for support. Moreover, 99.1% of the cases were successfully resolved without the need for costly and lengthy legal action.

 

Children and youth nuisance were the largest single cause of complaints, resulting in 2622 cases during the year. The other top causes were noise, untidy gardens, violent and abusive behaviour and misuse of property.

 

More emphasis has been placed on early intervention and support for tenants likely to lose their homes due to anti-social behaviour. This has seen a reduction in the number of possession orders, injunctions and anti-social behaviour orders. 21 tenants had possession orders taken out against them for anti-social behaviour last year.

 

Sheffield Homes, which manages around 45,000 homes on behalf of Sheffield City Council, is working closely with communities and the Police on initiatives to prevent anti-social behaviour happening in the first place. It is teaching classroom sessions on good citizenship to children from the age of 3 and employs a team of specialist wardens to patrol estates.

 

From later this year every housing area will have a team of wardens, who will develop local knowledge and strong links with communities and Tenants and Residents Associations.

 

Janet Parry, Director of Housing Management at Sheffield Homes, said, "We will continue to take a tough stance against anti-social behaviour and urge communities to work with us to tackle these individuals who are making other people’s lives a misery. As this report shows, the vast majority of the problems can be successfully resolved with going through the Courts."

 

Cllr Chris Weldon, Cabinet Member for Safer Neighbourhoods, said; "I'm glad to see that the measures we have in place are helping people to feel empowered to tackle anti- social behaviour and that they are also helping to tackle problems early before they escalate. Where necessary, if intervention and mediation attempts fail, we will continue to use every power available to us, including legal action, because we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour within our neighbourhoods."

 

How to report anti-social behaviour in Sheffield: