Plymouth Community Homes is leading a project to tackle anti-social behaviour in Devonport to help improve the environment for local people.
Following reports of issues with drug taking, vandalism and abusive behaviour increasing in parts of Devonport, PCH put together an action group to help address the problems – and is now seeking support from local community partners, stakeholders and organisations working in the area.
The action group was formed after increased reports were made both by PCH residents and PCH staff working in and around the Granby Street area of Devonport, where PCH manages a number of affordable homes.
To find out how local people really felt about their neighbourhood, PCH held a Resident Consultation Event in August, inviting residents of homes in and around Granby Street to share their thoughts about ASB or problems locally. 29 residents spoke with staff during the consultation day and 19 completed surveys, of which 95% were PCH residents.
Of the group surveyed, 58% reported that they felt unsafe in their neighbourhood – and 100% of everyone spoken to said they had experienced ASB in the last year, though only 42% had reported it.
Some of the comments shared by local people included reports of being verbally and physically abused by youths on the street, drug and alcohol abuse taking place openly in the park, communal areas, streets and stairways, windows being broken, vandalism, theft, and noise issues.
Residents asked for increased policing, more CCTV, better security around blocks and entrance areas, as well as other measures to improve the environment and local area.
PCH took immediate action and has already carried out a number of steps to help address the issues, which have received positive feedback and helped improve the environment now.
This includes:
- Removing a bin shelter, as it was creating a protected space for ASB behaviour. The shelter was locked off and has been demolished.
- Raising the canopy of the trees on the street, cutting off lower branches, to increase visibility and reduce covered areas being used for alcohol abuse and drug taking.
- Disconnecting the ‘trade buttons’ on communal block entrance doors for delivery workers, which were being misused by people to access the stairwells for drug taking or anti-social behaviour.
- Fixing communal block doors so they cannot be forced open.
- Increasing the PCH presence in the area with Housing Officers now visiting once a week and Neighbourhood Walkabouts held every three months, whilst Rangers still attend daily to clean up and manage the environment.
- Preparing a plan to survey all buildings to see where structural improvement works may be needed in future.
- Working with the local police to identify ways of increasing reporting of crime.
- Reviewing CCTV provision in the area and evaluating additional CCTV cameras which can be installed.
- Reviewing community improvements recommended by resident feedback, including possible planting, gardens and outside play areas which could be created.
- Encouraging more residents to report ASB – both to the police and to PCH, so it can be addressed.
- Joining walkabouts of the area with Devon & Cornwall Police officers.
PCH is now asking for support from its community partners to move forward with its work to improve the neighbourhood, and is planning to hold an event for all community groups, businesses, police, council, and other stakeholder representatives to talk about what can be done.
Louise Turner, Head of Property, Safety and Environmental Services at Plymouth Community Homes, has led the action group.
Louise said: “We take reports of ASB very seriously, and we are committed to creating communities where people want to live, and where they feel safe. It was really worrying to hear from some of our staff and residents in the Devonport area that they were seeing increased incidents of drug taking and alcohol abuse happening on the streets in broad daylight, and in the stairwells of our communal blocks.
“Residents didn’t feel safe walking their children to school or nursery, and were being verbally abused or threatened when they walked around their neighbourhood.
“We’ve been quick to act to make improvements where we could, and it’s great to see that these changes have already helped to reduce incidents of ASB, making it harder for people to access block stairwells or to carry out drug taking under the canopy of trees or inside the bin shelter.
“Now we want to work with some of our community partners to see what else can be done to help improve the environment for people living there.”
PCH tenants who need to report issues of ASB can find more information on our website about who to contact.
Residents who do not live in a PCH property need to report ASB to their local council.
PCH works within a multi-agency approach with statutory organisations like Plymouth City Council, Victim Support, the Police and Public Protection to tackle and help prevent further ASB.
Businesses, community groups or organisations based in the Devonport area who are interested in joining PCH’s action group to address ASB in the Devonport community should contact Andy Brettle, Area Housing Manager at PCH, on 0808 2306500 or email Andrew.Brettle@plymouthcommunityhomes.co.uk
