The number of housing associations offering self-defence lessons to their staff has grown by 50% in the past two years, according to one personal safety training company.

Global Security Services, which specialises in conflict management, said an increasing number of associations were sending staff on courses that taught them to deal with “physical and verbal” assaults.

The Cheshire-based company was unable to provide figures to back up its claim, but its clients include William Sutton Housing Group and Family Housing Association (Birmingham).

The news follows reports that bulletproof vests have been offered to housing officers in London (HT 19 November, page 7) and criticism of social landlords for not doing more to protect frontline staff (HT 26 November, page 8).

Stuart Morris, training division operations manager at Global Security Services, said: “We are seeing a significant increase in the number of associations wanting that type of training. We provide skills for people who could be at risk.”

Family chief executive Tim Sewell said staff had to learn how to handle confrontations.

He said: “We decided to send our staff on the training as part of addressing the need for staff to manage potential conflict situations.

“All of our staff thought it was of tremendous value in learning how to take the heat out of situations.”

Source

Housing Today