Tackling ASB – the role of social landlords

1. Tackling ASB – the role of social landlords Peter Jackson Managing Director ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007 1

2. What I intend to cover... • ASB is being tackled • Is there a fixation about ASBOs • Where next for “Respect”? • A new direction for Registered Social Landlords? ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

3. Don’t forget... ‘[Social landlords] are the driving force behind the ASB agenda…’ Louise Casey Head of the Respect Task Force, 2005 3 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

4. ASB is being tackled…. 2003/2004 – 2006/2007: • 97% of 353 local authorities saw drop in ASB CLG 2007 Level of intervention needed to stop ASB: • 65% after one intervention • 85% after two • 93% after three NAO 2006 contd/.. ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

5. Public perceptions of ASB: • 2002-2003: 21% • 2005-2006: 17% NAO 2006 Practitioners: • 92% felt more done on ASB than 3 years ago • 79% had community backing • 41% felt better multi agency working has helped tackle asb CLG 2007 contd/.. ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

6. Effectiveness in stopping ASB: • Warning letters: 63% • Acceptable Behaviour Contracts: 65% • ASBOs: 45% NAO 2006 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

7. Why the fixation about ASBOs? ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

8. Child custody– the view from Youth Justice Board What happens elsewhere: For every 100,000 children in the population- France locks up 6 Spain 2 Finland 0.2 UK 23 YJB target is by March 2008 to reduce under 18 custodial population by 10% from March 2005 level From 1992 – 2000 child custody doubled - against dramatic reductions during 1980s 8 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

9. Treasury & DCSF view… “Adults and the media commonly associate young people with problems such as anti-social behaviour – 71% of media stories about young people are negative, a third of articles about young people are about crime, and almost a third of adults think that “young people hanging around” is a major problem in their neighbourhood. Young people are keenly aware of their reputation in the community, with 98% of them feeling that the media portrays them as anti-social.” Aiming high for young people: a ten year strategy for positive activities HM Treasury & DCSF July 2007 9 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

10. The view of the Children’s Secretary … “It’s a failure every time a young person gets an ASBO. It’s necessary – but it’s not right. I want to live in the kind of society that puts ASBOs behind us”. Ed Balls July 2007… ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007 10

11. Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill 2007 The introduction to the Bill states: It will strengthen the pre-court and community penalties available for young offenders so that, wherever possible, offending by children and young persons is effectively addressed without the need to resort to custody; ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

12. Sentencing Advisory Panel view…. 12 7,500 successful prosecutions of ASBOs in 2000 46% were jailed “Community orders should be given to young offenders” “only consider jail if breach involved serious harassment, alarm or distress or series of serious breaches” “if breach did not involve harassment, alarm or distress” impose a fine instead Sentencing Advisory Panel consultation paper Aug 2007 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

13. Negative media attitudes to ASBOs… • BIBIC survey of ASBO & mental health disorder 2005 • 30% under 17s given ASBOs with “diagnosable mental health disorder” • Research not published • “The ASBO – wrong turning dead end” Police Sup’t Wain Sept 2007 • Conclusion that ASBOs don’t work on the basis of interviews with 21 perpetrators • Failure of ISOs ignored ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

14. Where next for Respect? ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

15. Respect Standard Sign-up at October 2007: • Local authorities: 64% • RSLs [top 250]: 61% • Total social housing: 63% • 355 signatories • 5 million tenants CLG October 2007 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

16. Public Accounts Committee Critical of some elements of approach to tackling ASB… Piecemeal introduction of powers Poor data collection and evaluation Too enforcement led July 2007 16 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

17. 5 October 2007 - the end for Respect? Youth Taskforce announced: Headed by Anne Weinstock In DCSF “Respect Task Force work on preventing and tackling ASB will continue in Taskforce” Commitments in the Respect Action Plan “have been met” ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007 17

18. Bye, bye Louise… Louise Casey to head up review of “how front-line agencies can get their communities better engaged in the fight against crime” Report to Ministerial Group, chaired by Home Secretary In June 2008 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007 18

19. Where does the buck stop on ASB? ASB & Alcohol unit – Home Office Youth Taskforce – DCSF Respect and ASB - DCLG ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007 19

20. Complaints about ASB… • Fastest growing subject of complaints in past year • 2006/07 saw 13.5% increase in complaints • Overall complaints stable – 18,320 compared to 18,626 2005/06 Local Government Ombudsman 2007 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

21. Yet more laws … Welfare Reform Act 2007 Housing Benefit sanctions For those who refuse help and support after eviction Heavily criticised 10 pilot areas 21 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

22. Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill 2007 Premises Closure Orders Police power Expansion of crack house closures Used in Scotland Interagency implications Deferred FPN’s - implications for ABC’s 22 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

23. And a new inspection regime... • Stand alone regulator • In place for2009?! • Two tier – RSLs and ALMOs first • Tenants Voice • ASB focus [role for SLCNG?] Cave review 2007 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007 23

24. Still problems with partners • Partnership working • RSL influence with CDRPs/CSPs • Individual Support Orders • Parenting Orders & Parenting Contracts • Demotion • Judicial discretion ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

25. A new direction for Registered Social Landlords? ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

26. RSL involvement in Family Intervention Projects 53 set up by RTF 5 set up by HC and RSL led Different models developing: Residential/intensive Community/floating support/home based 26 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

27. Parenting “Parenting classes should be as normal as ante-natal classes” Joe Tuke RTF May 2007 Parenting Contracts Parenting Orders [wef 29 June 2007] Parenting Practitioners [funding from RTF in 77 target areas] Good business sense for RSLs? 27 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

28. Education RSL involvement in Academies New Charter - £2M Gentoo - £1M Willow Park Housing Trust – less than £150K on running costs 28 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

29. Investment in communities Investment in “tenant welfare” 2003/2004 – 2007/2008 RSLs in Eastern England spent £21M on non-housing related projects NHF October 2007 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007 29

30. The changing role of social landlords? Have social landlords always been agents of social control? Is this good business sense for RSLs? Or a role too far? What are the implications.. Commitment, Costs, Staffing, Inspection, Uniformity of approach, Status..... 30 ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007

31. ESRC Seminar 15 November 2007