Minister sees good work to rid crime from estate

Work between Newham Council, local police, residents and businesses, has seen residents of the Snowshill Estate enjoy an improvement in the quality of life.

Sir Robin said: "Safety remains the top concern of residents and one of our key priorities is to make our streets and estates safer. Crime and anti-social behaviour in all its forms is not acceptable and we will deal with the minority who make life miserable for the rest of us.

"Our residents can see enforcement action being taken on their estates and can feel reassured that we are doing everything we can to tackle local problems. Our work on the Snowshill Estate illustrates the already excellent relationship we have with the local police. We will continue to work closely with residents to respond to the different problems that exist in the area."

Sir Robin took the minister on a tour of the estate between Greenhill Grove and Snowshill Road.

Since 2006 the area had been plagued from anti-social behaviour by groups of youths who were intimidating residents, loitering in blocks, vandalising buildings, illegally driving vehicles and playing loud music from car stereos. Many of the youths did not live on the estate.

The council's youth offending, ASB investigations and enforcement teams, together with Newham Homes and the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team took tough action to deal with the problems. It included:

• CCTV installed on the estate together with extensive environment improvements including reducing the number of alleyways, installing door entry systems and erecting garden gates and fencing;
• youth activities offered to young people on the estate;
• nine Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) obtained by the council and police in 2007 and a further four interim orders in 2008 against the youths responsible;
• community kept informed through newsletters and meetings;
• regular patrols conducted by police to deal with loitering youths;
• the community encouraged to get involved and assist the authorities in taking action;
• support offered to victims and witnesses who agreed to attend court.

Calls to the council's Anti-Social Behaviour hotline about the estate have fallen with only ten between January and April compared to 24 over the same period last year.

In 2008 the Government's Safer Stronger Communities Fund allocated £133,516 towards projects tackling anti-social behaviour and crime issues in Newham.

Home Office Minister Mr Campbell said: "The Snowshill Estate is an excellent example of how using partnership and co-operation across the community, backed up by the use of tools and powers, can bring down anti-social behaviour."

Inspector Dan Carlton, of Newham police's Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, said: "The estate has had its problems with anti-social behaviour but I am pleased to say those problems are now broadly historical.

"The excellent work we are doing with the council and residents has brought about a real change to the area. Feedback we get from residents is that the estate is now safer, cleaner and an altogether nicer place to live."