asb research project june 2011 mel smith. introduction drivers to the research: changing policy...
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Research Methodology Stage 1 – Quantative analysis –Tenancy Breach system –Category 1 and 2 breaches –Process mapping Stage 2 – Qualitative Analysis –Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers –Legal section staff Stage 3 – Qualitative analysis –PerpetratorsTRANSCRIPT
ASB Research Project
June 2011
Mel Smith
Introduction
• Drivers to the research:– Changing policy context– Reviewing the service and Strategy
• Aim and objectives– Explore why some tenants reoffend (or not)– What are perceptions of the tools we use – Explore what could stop tenants from re-offending
Research Methodology
• Stage 1 – Quantative analysis– Tenancy Breach system– Category 1 and 2 breaches– Process mapping
• Stage 2 – Qualitative Analysis– Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers– Legal section staff
• Stage 3 – Qualitative analysis– Perpetrators
Headline findings
Types of Legal Tools Used
485, 75%
133, 20%
20, 3%
16, 2%
2, 0% NOSPNOSP 21Seeking posession orderPossession order givenLegal other
Initial Breach Type for Re-offences
The reality.....
Visit made by NEO and NHM
still on PPO from previous drug
conviction 22/04/08
Informed by police – tenant arrested on possession of
drugs and weapons21/04/08
Drugs22/4/08
4
PPO expired from previous drug conviction 19/12/08
PPO expired 14/5/10
Letter hand delivered – Possession Order
application to bailiffs with legal 22/04/08
Perpetrator contacts office
Re: letter advised to get solicitor
30/04/08
County Court adjourned until after 30th Sept
19/5/08
Re-bailed to 25th Sept4/8/08
Info from legal:
hearing on 18/12/08 (tenacy)24/9/08
Re-bailed until
4/12/0830/9/08 Mo
nitore
d31
/10/08
11/11
/0817
/11/08
24/11
/081/1
2/08 Re-bailed
to 5/1/0908/12/08 Mo
nitore
d15
/12/0
8 New court date 03/02/09 (tenancy)22/12/08
Answered bail 5/1/09 charged with possession of
cannabis – bailed for court
12/1/09
Awaiting Police Info:
26/1/09
Re-bailed for court
(Drugs) 30/1/09
Tenancy court case cancelled
3/2/09 30/1/09
Monit
ored
2/2/09
10/2/
09New court date 14/5/09 18/2/09
Monitored3/3/099/3/09
Unaware that tenant
appeared in court for drug
12/3/09
Monitored17/3/0923/3/091/4/0915/4/09
Police update:Found guilty for possession
of cannabis – 36 weeks imprisonment with a 2 year
suspension20/4/09
Monit
ored
28/4/
09Letter sent confirming tenancy court date
(14/5/09)28/4/09
Monitored5/5/0911/5/09
Prior to hearing parties agree to a PPO- Granted for
12 months14/5/09
Monit
ored
18/5/
0926
/5/09
1/6/09
5/6/09 Case Closed
PPO
PPO
– 12m
onths
14/5/
09
Cat 3 – Garden No action taken
26/11/09
5Drugs
9/1/10
6Police info: tenant arrested
on suspicion of possession of drugs (9/1/10) on bail till
22/3/109/1/10
Visited tenant – No reply
Breach of PPO Already been to
court for previous drug convictions
1/2/10
2nd visit made, no reply
Card left5/2/10
Letter sent to tenant informing him of intentions to await police investigation.
8/2/10
Police have arrested tenant on 2 charges of
possession of drugs and theft- Court date tbc
24/3/10
NEO contacted police – date set
for court.20/4/10
Court date 27/5/10
NOM contacted NEO to liaise with police for court date. No update from court case
28/5/10
Court case referred to Newcastle crown
court (26/6/10)1/6/10
NOM discussed with NEO and Legal advised to wait outcome from hearing before serving
NOSP or other action.1/6/10
Monitored14/6/1028/6/10
Re-bailed to appear in court tbc6/7/10
No further complaints- court date (6/9/10)
18/8/10
Tenant goes to court- sentenced to
6 months community order
varied for 12mnths with curfew 7am –
7pm6/9/10
Visit made – no reply
notice posted
through the door
14/9/10
Court date 26/11/10 (tenancy)
Hearing adjourned (tenancy)30/11/10
Monitored:6/12/105/1/1126/1/111/2/11
PPO agreed by both parties and
drafted16/2/11
Monitored:16/3/1128/3/11
Case ClosedPPO (31/8/12)
4/4/11
PPO 16/2/11
PPO expires 31/8/12
Case study 2
Re-offenders Profile
Witness and Victim Support
• High on the Government Agenda• Legal section feels that court action would be more
successful with witness evidence• Staff not comfortable as they feel they can’t guarantee
safety from repercussions.How do you persuade a woman who lives next door to a drug dealer who beats people black and blue to stand in a witness box?
From the customer .....
• Why? – The ‘friends’ as a bad influence– Underlying issues
• Perception of tools? – NOSP – significant impact..positive and negative– Generally unaware of the range of tools
From the customer...
• Who’s responsible?– No distinction between agencies: result that counts– Communities are responsible for their own safety
• What might help? – Threat of losing their tenancy– Core group of people who can’t be helped
He’s done it for so long. Nothing stops him. He’s not bothered about his kids. He’s too busy enjoying his life and getting into trouble
Next steps
• Complete the customer interviews• Research report and summary early Autumn• Freely available from Gentoo and CIH• Contact:
Melanie Smith, Gentoo [email protected] Kent Smith, CIH [email protected]