Softer touch to the strong-arm approach

Conflict within and between communities is an intractable problem in many areas for which new approaches are needed. So concludes Lemos & Crane’s report, Community Conflict: Causes and Action, based on interviews and discussions with residents and practitioners around the country. The research was funded by the Housing Corporation, the ODPM and the Home Office’s Community Cohesion Unit.

Interviewees told us about three main causes of conflict: young people and antisocial behaviour; racial tensions (sometimes between minority groups) and drug users and dealers.

Practitioners and residents said action in response to conflict focused too readily on law enforcement measures, either civil or criminal. While re-establishing control by the public authorities through law enforcement is essential, a lasting solution involves patient efforts to bring groups together.

Coalitions of shared interest

Ultimately, conflicts will only be irreversibly reduced by residents and local agencies coming together in coalitions of shared interest beyond the sources of the original conflict.

Lemos & Crane has created an action planning toolkit, available on the Race Action Net website, to help practitioners better understand what is going on in their neighbourhood and to design and implement responses that are both multi-agency and multi-initiative. There are more than 50 action examples, including several led by housing associations.

Ealing Family Housing Association was faced with conflict between Asian and Somali communities on an estate in Southall, west London. Some Asian tenants thought the more recently established Somali community was responsible for petty crime and drug dealing in the area. Young Asian people felt threatened by Somali drug and non-drug-related gangs. In response they formed their own groups. Interracial tensions grew.

Ealing Family held a multi-agency public meeting. They specifically targeted Somali and Asian parents to attend. Practitioners presented their measures for dealing with local problems. The local beat officer explained what the police could do about drug dealing, emphasising the need to collect evidence in order to take action. Housing officers explained the possibilities of antisocial behaviour orders and acceptable behaviour contracts.

On one estate, young Asians felt threatened by Somali gangs and formed their own groups. Interracial tensions grew

The meeting also enabled Asian and Somali parents to talk face-to-face and express their concerns. The Asian parents said drugs had not previously been a problem on the estate, that their children were not responsible and that Somali young people were dealing in public. The Somali parents, many from religious backgrounds, could understand the position of the Asian parents and offered to talk to the young people involved.

Following separate consultations with young people, an integrated youth forum was set up at the community centre. A mix of Somali, Asian and English young people turned up to play table tennis, badminton and pool. Local volunteers were recruited and trained to supervise the forum. The outcome of these initiatives has been positive, according to local people: interracial tensions have visibly reduced.

Feeling abandoned

Orbit Bexley Housing Association was faced with burglaries, car crime and vandalism caused by young people on an estate in Slade Green, Bexley. Older people and families with young children also felt intimidated by groups of young people congregating in public areas, especially in high-rise blocks of flats. The council and Orbit Bexley talked to residents about their concerns and were informed that people felt abandoned by the local agencies.

Bexley Community Safety Partnership set up a community safety action zone in Slade Green involving senior managers from Orbit Bexley, Bexley council, other local associations, residents and the police. They agreed a timetable for action.

In October 2002 ASBOs were granted against six perpetrators, which prohibited them from congregating in public places in groups of more than three; or causing distress, damaging property and abusing or harassing anyone in the borough.

The physical environment of the estate was also improved by limiting access to certain alleys, gating routes used by people being pursued by police cars. Trees and timber bollards were installed to deter joy-riding. The park had new skate ramps and a play area. A public art collection was shown and residents were consulted on its design. Residents also took part in metalwork demonstrations and shrub planting. The result was that car crime, robberies and street crime fell and residents now feel safer.