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According to a new survey by the Empty Homes Agency, 63% of social housing managers have identified crime and the fear of crime as the primary reasons for low demand.
The survey, sponsored by Orbis Property Protection, also identifies anti-social behaviour, drugs and vandalism in neighbouring areas as key contributors. It says tackling crime, and addressing graffiti, fly tipping, dog fouling and truancy would lead to a 10% rise in demand in these areas.
While environmental improvements top the list of solutions (82%), 73% of managers say the introduction of wardens would help regenerate empty homes sites. 48% state that security initiatives such as patrols are required, while 27% want domestic alarms.
Ashley Horsey, chief executive of the Empty Homes Agency, said empty homes "provide the raw materials for theft, vandalism, squatting and anti-social behaviour". Among the respondents to the survey, 36% said they spend more than GB pound 3 million every year on regeneration, while 25% spent more than GB pound 250,000.
Meanwhile, the Home Office recently pledged a new assault on crime and disorder aimed at revitalising England’s most deprived areas. It has launched a National Strategy Action Plan as part of its commitment to neighbourhood regeneration, seeking long-term solutions in key crime areas.
Among the Home Office proposals are 50 new neighbourhood warden schemes. These have been grant-aided to make a positive impact on the confidence and self-esteem of residents working with the police and local authorities. During the year, the Home Office also plans to launch 22 web-based crime reduction tool-kits giving practical advice to community crime partnerships.
Home Secretary Jack Straw said that the national strategy marks "a radical break" from past attempts to regenerate deprived areas.
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