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An award-winning partnership scheme to combat
problems associated with houses in multiple occupation (HMO) has
announced ambitious plans for the second phase of the
project.
The North Somerset project - Operation Jupiter - centred on
Weston-super-Mare, involves North Somerset Council and the police
and is supported by North Somerset Community Safety and Drug Action
Team, the Probation Service, North Somerset Primary Care Trust,
Avon Ambulance NHS Trust and Supporting People.
Potentially the next phase will be the most challenging so far
in the fledgling project, which has attracted national and
international interest in the way it tackles problems and issues
relating to houses of multiple occupancy.
Targets for the forthcoming phase are:
- Establishing links between high levels of crime and individuals
who are accessing drug rehabilitation services in Weston
- Reducing the extra burden being placed upon local services by
clients from other areas who arrive for drug treatment and
subsequently relapse
- Improving the quality of management of individuals from outside
North Somerset who are subject to the criminal justice system.
- Implementing an accreditation scheme for drug and alcohol
rehabilitation services.
Operation Jupiter was set up to tackle problems and issues
relating to houses of multiple occupancy and it a good example of a
multi-agency partnership approach to dealing with HMOs and
associated problems.
Since the launch of the scheme:
- 30 arrests have been made as a result of intelligence gained
through the initiative
- A reduction of 137 beds in poorly-managed houses of multiple
occupancy
- Seven warrants executed under the Misuse of Drugs Act/Theft
Act
- Stolen property and Class A and Class C drugs seized
- £36,000 "Supporting People" funding withdrawn from one centre
and the premises subsequently closed
- One poor quality drug/alcohol rehabilitation establishment no
longer allowed to accept individuals either from prison or on
probation
- Seven premises sold or re-developed or subject to "change of
use" applications
- 49 housing standards enforcement notices served
- A one third reduction in calls to emergency services to the top
20 most problematic premises
- Investigation by the Inland Revenue into possible tax
evasion
- Benefit fraud investigations on-going relating to one
landlord
- Tax liability increased by the Inland Revenue for one
premise
- Housing benefits now more strictly controlled
The progress of the project is being reported to the Home Office
and various other government agencies so that national agencies can
support North Somerset in better control, management and treatment
of drug users, who commit crime.
It is also anticipated that the good practice of the North
Somerset scheme can be adopted elsewhere in the country, where
similar drug rehabilitation services operate.
Operation Jupiter took runners up prize in the Tilley Awards -
the national problem-orientated police awards scheme - earlier this
year.
And officials from the scheme were invited to attend an
international police seminar in America to deliver a presentation
on the scheme and its success so far. A number of police forces
from across the globe expressed considerable interest in the
scheme.
Cllr Isabel Cummings, North Somerset Council's executive member
for housing and community safety said: "Operation Jupiter has had a
spectacular effect on raising standards in houses in multiple
occupation in Weston and improving the quality of life for those
living in and around these premises.
"This really shows the power of partnership working and we look
forward to building on these excellent results in the future."
Chief Superintendent Tracy Hayler, North Somerset policing
district commander said: "Our analysis of this problem came as a
result of operational officers identifying the impact of
disproportionate numbers of chaotic drug users in
Weston-super-Mare.
"Over the past two years partner agencies have worked tirelessly
to reduce the problems caused by lack of control and accountability
in the management, care and treatment of people with drug and
alcohol problems in Weston-super-Mare.
"We now have a clear understanding of the work now required to
build on the success and dramatic reductions in some areas of
inquisitive crime and we are reliant upon the Home Office, the
National Treatment Agency and a number of other national bodies,
discussed in the latest report."
For more information download a
copy of the report. |