Powers given to tAckle rowdies

Cross Keys move to stop anti-social behaviour

Peterborough’s largest housing association can now fine people “blighting” the lives of city residents. Cross Keys Homes has been awarded the authority to issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs) by Peterborough City Council.

The CPN will be issued to perpetratorsofpersistent, unreasonablebehaviourthathas a detrimental effect on those nearby.

It will be issued following formal requests that the perpetrator stops the behaviour or takes reasonable steps to avoid further anti-social behaviour.

Breaching a CPNisacriminal offence and will result in a fixed penalty notice being is- sued of up to £100.

Breaches could also see perpetrators being fined up to £1,000, paying for remedial work or forfeiting items.

Revenuefromthefineswill go to the council.

CPNs will cover a wide range of anti-social behaviour including noise, nuisance, graffiti, littering and fly-tipping.

Joan Tibbs, director of neighbourhood management at Cross Keys, said: “Having these powers to issue CPNs gives us another weapon in our armour against the instances of anti-social behaviour that can blight the lives of residents in the city.

“They make it clear to the small numberofperpetrators that their behaviour will not betolerated. It alsogivesusthe power to rectify any damage caused at the expense of the perpetrator and not the public purse.”

Cross Keys will only issues CPNs to its tenants.

In 2014/15, the housing association dealt with 660cases of anti-social behaviour involvingitstenants, 40percent of which were noise related.

Cross Keys has over 10,000 properties in Peterborough, while social housing equates to almost 50 per cent of the city’s rental sector.

The CPN is a new power which replaces previous environmental anti-social behaviour legislation.

However, its use has now been broadened to address any anti- social behaviour which is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of a community, in particular noise.

The notices can be issued to a person aged 16 or over as well as a business or organisation.

CPNscameintoeffectfrom October 20, 2014.