Riverside - Landlord helps to cut crime

Landlord Riverside is helping to curb crime in the Bentley area of Doncaster by working closely with police and tenants.

The social landlord is carrying out regular estate inspections of the North Swaithe Close area where it has properties.

Carolyn Hewitt is Riverside’s community engagement officer. She said: “Vulnerable tenants have suffered harassment in the past and people have complained of noise nuisance, fly tipping and dog fouling. It’s good to meet people in their homes to find out more about the issues that affect them, to make sure that we tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in our communities.”

In the last three months the average number of crimes has decreased in the Bentley area.

Police and Riverside have worked together to crack down on anti-social behaviour by securing the move of a problem tenant, who as well as running up rent arrears, was also a nuisance to his neighbours.

Police Constable Shaun Wilkinson thinks that people are more confident when it comes to reporting problems. He added: “Tenants have been working closely with our team and housing officers to identify issues that would have previously gone unreported. Our partnership work has helped to stamp out some of the anti social behaviour in the community.”