Halton Housing Trust signs up to Respect Charter
HALTON Housing Trust has made a pledge to continue its fight against anti-social behaviour across Runcorn and Widnes in 2012.
The Trust has been one of the early signatories to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Respect Charter, which aims to ensure housing providers across the country promise to address the causes of anti-social behaviour and the negative effect it has on communities.
Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “We have always been committed to dealing with anti-social behaviour in a fair, but robust way and signing up to the Charter strengthens our resolve by publicly declaring our commitment.
“By signing up to the Charter it sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate ASB in our communities.”
The Charter outlines seven key areas that housing associations commit to; providing an accessible and accountable service, taking swift action to protect communities, supporting victims and witnesses, encouraging individual and community responsibility, prevention and early intervention and value for money.
Recently the Trust secured an anti-social behaviour injunction (ASBI) against a man whose dogs had caused serious problems in his local area. The Trust is using noise monitoring equipment to take action against anyone disturbing neighbours with excessive noise.
To help deal with this the Trust purchased noise monitoring equipment and uses this with support from the Safer Halton Partnership’s Community Safety Team.
The Trust is keen to send out a clear message to residents about anti-social behaviour.
“We have already shown our commitment to dealing with anti-social behaviour and this latest pledge shows that we will continue to create neighbourhoods where people feel safe and secure in their homes,” said Nick Atkin.
To report a case of anti-social behaviour in a Halton Housing Trust community call 0800 195 3172 (from a landline) or 0303 333 0101 (from a mobile). These numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.