Peterborough's largest housing association given powers to fine tenants for anti-social behaviour

Cross Keys Homes has been awarded the authority to issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs) by Peterborough City Council.

The CPN will be issued to perpetrators of persistent, unreasonable behaviour that has a detrimental effect on those nearby.

It will be issued following formal requests that the perpetrator stops the behaviour or takes reasonable steps to avoid further anti-social behaviour.

Breaching a CPN is a criminal offence and will result in a fixed penalty notice being issued of up to £100.

Breaches could also see perpetrators being fined up to £1,000, paying for remedial work or forfeiting items.

Revenue from the fines will go to the council.

CPNs will cover a wide range of anti-social behaviour including noise, nuisance, graffiti, littering and fly-tipping.

Joan Tibbs, director of neighbourhood management at Cross Keys, said: “Having these powers to issue CPNs gives us another weapon in our armour against the instances of anti-social behaviour that can blight the lives of residents in the city.

“They make it clear to the small number of perpetrators that their behaviour will not be tolerated. It also gives us the power to rectify any damage caused at the expense of the perpetrator and not the public purse.”

Cross Keys will only issues CPNs to its tenants.

In 2014/15, the housing association dealt with 660 cases of anti-social behaviour involving its tenants, 40 per cent of which were noise related.

Cross Keys has over 10,000 properties in Peterborough, while social housing equates to almost 50 per cent of the city’s rental sector.

The CPN is a new power which replaces previous environmental anti-social behaviour legislation.

However, its use has now been broadened to address any anti-social behaviour which is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of a community, in particular noise.

The notices can be issued to a person aged 16 or over as well as a business or organisation.

CPNs came into effect from October 20, 2014.