LMH and tenants' work to reduce crime shortlisted for HCA award

Published by Jean Clarke for Liverpool Mutual Homes in Housing and also in Communities, Environment, Local Government

Work between tenants and a housing association to tackle anti-social behaviour on an estate in Liverpool has been shortlisted for a coveted Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) award.

Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) and its tenants, who formed the Westminster Estate Tenants' and Residents' Associaton (WETRA), are down to the last five entries in the HCA's Stronger Communities category.

Work between LMH and WETRA has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in reported anti-social behaviour on the estate in North Liverpool, a reduced number of vacant properties, the introduction of Neighbourhood Watch and Smartwater schemes, an improvement in properties as part of LMH's £400 million regeneration programme and signicantlty, the introduction of the Intensive Community Payback scheme.

The scheme sees offenders working full-time in the community to repay their debt and has been successfully delivered in partnership with a variety of organisations including Liverpool’s innovative Community Justice Centre, the Probation Service, Merseyside Police and the Council’s North Neighbourhood Management Service.

Tenants say they feel safer in their homes and now have a renewed sense of community spirit.

The scheme allows Judge David Fletcher to sentence offenders appearing at the Community Justice Centre with a new Intensive Community Payback Order whereby they have to work five days a week until they complete their unpaid hours, with work starting within two days of sentencing.

Offenders are shown the affects of their crimes and, motivated by role models, they are able to gain experience of full-time work, complete their hours and rehabilitate quicker whilst also seeing the results of their labour.  They are also given practical help to turn their experience into paid employment.

Police involvement in the scheme has eased fears about attacks on the site and reassured residents.  The high visibility of the scheme has given residents the confidence to suggest further work and is helping offenders to successfully rehabilitate into the community motivated by direct praise from residents and partners, taking real pride in their achievements and developing a work ethic.

The Intensive Community Payback order has been successfully used as a last chance for offenders who have breached previous community orders to avoid custody.  The work is also seen by the community as a tough alternative to a short spell in prison.

LMH has also established links with Jobcentre Plus and a local social enterprise to help offenders leaving the scheme secure training and employment opportunities.

Chief Executive at LMH, Steve Coffey, said: "The success of our partnership with WETRA shows exactly what can be achieved by working closely with tenants and listening to their needs and opinions.

"The estate was in poor condition and anti-social behaviour and crime levels were high but our investment programme has improved the physical appearance of homes and given people a sense of pride in their neighbourhoods.

"The involvement of tenants in schemes such as the Intensive Community Payback has empowered them to take an active role in influencing the areas they live in.

"We are now using this model at other our other estates across the city and I would encourage all our tenants to get involved to help us shape their communities and improve their lives."

Last year LMH won the HCA Reducing Carbon award for its regeneration work on the Daneville Estate in Walton that saw it cut CO2 emissions significantly and pass on the savings to tenants by reducing their fuel bills by more than 70 per cent.

LMH will learn if it has been successful at an awards ceremony on the 23^rd September.

Ends

Photograph: Harry Mooney (WETRA), Tony Chin (Merseyside Probation Trust). Mike Flynn, (Graff Attack), Elaine Doolan (WETRA), with two payback workers who took part in the Intensive Community Payback scheme.