Sentinel first to take stand on Anti-Social Behaviour
6 December 2006 -
Sentinel Housing Association are the first in Basingstoke to sign up to the high profile government new initiative called Respect. Sentinel were invited up to Whitehall to meet Government Minister Ruth Kelly MP at the reception held in London on Tuesday December 12.
The Respect Standard for Housing Management has been introduced as part of the government's Respect Agenda, which strives to tackle bad behaviour and encourage a culture of respect by a system of early intervention and support, especially for young people and families, and tough enforcement action to protect individuals and communities.
Martin Nurse, Sentinel Chief Executive, said, "The Respect Agenda builds on the good work that has already been done to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB), but it goes further and deeper to try to tackle the causes, enabling the next generation to grow up in communities where tolerance and respect for one another are the norm.
"By signing up to the Housing Standard we aim to send a message to residents that we are committed to stamping out ASB and together with our partner agencies we will work with both victims and perpetrators to achieve that goal".
Sentinel has produced its own Respect Action Plan which sets out how they are going to meet the aims of the Respect Agenda. Sentinel's Action Plan includes projects to enable them to take tough stance on ASB such the proactive collection of evidence for use in court action through covert and overt CCTV equipment, recording noise nuisance and an enhanced Witness Support Scheme to protect witnesses and victims, and encourage them to give evidence in court.
Steve Thorn, Neighbourhood Manager for Sentinel, said, "It has been really exciting working on the Respect Action Plan and developing new and innovative ways of tackling ASB. In the next year we will be looking at ways of supporting and helping perpetrators change their behaviour through a new group support scheme, tenancy training to help tenants maintain their tenancy, parenting classes, and increased use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts to modify individual's behaviour."
Ensuring equality of opportunity and recognising diversity for all our customers, treating everyone fairly and without discriminaton