I WOULD like to respond to a couple of recently printed letters regarding anti-social behaviour, which suggested that people evicted by Bolton at Home will be re-housed by Housing Associations.

Bolton Council works closely with its Housing Association partners, which are part of Bolton Community Homes. This partnership, which also includes Bolton at Home, takes anti-social behaviour very seriously and is developing a "joint policy" with the Council's Community Safety Team to tackle the problem.

This co-ordinated approach means that information is shared among Bolton at Home and the housing associations, about tenants who have caused problems and those that have been evicted.

The housing associations and Bolton at Home share surveillance equipment purchased through the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, to address the problems on our streets and estates.

Most importantly, all the partners are also involved in many initiatives working on prevention and rehabilitation of persons who are, or have been, involved in anti-social behaviour, such as the Bolton Families Project, to work with people to change the unacceptable behaviour.

The preventative and rehabilitation work demonstrates the commitment Bolton Community Homes and its partners have in trying to resolve the problem - not just move it around the borough.

David Wilkinson

Executive Member for Environment and Housing Strategy

Bolton Metro