Community Trigger trial launched in Richmond

Published by Eddie for Richmond Housing Partnership Limited in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities

Local people will be given new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood thanks to a new scheme being tested in Richmond upon Thames.

The Community Trigger scheme is launched in the borough on 17 August, and means that local police, Richmond Council and RHP will be required to review how they have dealt with complaints about anti-social behaviour (ASB) if local residents do not feel they have been handled properly.

The Community Trigger is designed to support those who have submitted three or more complaints about the same issue to their landlord, the Police or the Council and have not received an adequate response. It can also be used when five separate people have complained about the same issue, and will trigger a meeting between the agencies involved to ensure an action plan and resolution is agreed.

RHP was chosen to take part in the trial as the largest social landlord in the borough. Ian Whiteway, Head of Anti Social Behaviour at RHP, says:

 “We are delighted to take part, following our successful partnership with the Home Office on the ‘Focus on the Victim’ report. RHP’s strong infrastructure and partnerships with Richmond Council and the Metropolitan Police ensure that any reported anti-social behaviour is dealt with efficiently, however this pilot will help us guarantee that every single person who reports ASB in the borough will be responded to.”

Cllr Pamela Fleming, Richmond Council Cabinet Member for Communities, Business and Culture, says:

"We welcome the fact that we’ve been chosen as a pilot area for this important scheme providing residents with more powers. The community trigger scheme also builds on the partnership work we’ve already done, enabling the police, Council and RHP to sit down together and decide on the best ways of dealing with residents’ concerns, helping turn our borough into a safer place to live.”

Acting Chief Inspector Hannah Wheeler, from the Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team, says:

"Tackling ASB is one of our main priorities for the coming year as we all know the negative impact that it can have on communities. Therefore we welcome the decision to pilot the community trigger scheme in Richmond. The development of the trigger will enable us to build on the significant progress that has already been made. We hope that it will allow us to further evaluate our collective response to ASB and to focus more on repeat and vulnerable victims.”

Visit http://www.rhp.org.uk/Content/410/The-Community-Trigger.aspx or  www.richmond.gov.uk/community_trigger for more information.