Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Police caution on Bethany move
Saturday 24th March 2007, 11:35AM GMT.
Police in Stafford are reacting with caution to the news that convicted criminals could be housed at Stafford’s new homeless hostel.
Police were plagued with problems or criminal and anti-social behaviour carried out by residents at the Bethany Project hostel on Newport Road, which has since been closed down due to mismanagement, the fate of the building sealed when a fire ripped through it following an arson attack in 2005.
The Eagle Inn, the disused pub on the site was also a haven for squatters and addicts, who injected drugs there.
Police in Stafford are reacting with caution to the news that convicted criminals could be housed at Stafford’s new homeless hostel.
Police were plagued with problems or criminal and anti-social behaviour carried out by residents at the Bethany Project hostel on Newport Road, which has since been closed down due to mismanagement, the fate of the building sealed when a fire ripped through it following an arson attack in 2005.
The Eagle Inn, the disused pub on the site was also a haven for squatters and addicts, who injected drugs there.
Inspector Rob Pilling, the new Commander of Stafford Local Policing Unit, said he is aware of the past problems and has an officer working alongside partners including both the borough and county councils Midland Heart and other interested parties.
He said: “We did have some big problems relating to the Bethany Project, there is no getting away from that.
A lot of police time was spent dealing with the people from the hostel.
“However this doesn’t mean that the town doesn’t need this facility.
“There are other hostels in other areas that exist without creating the problems that the Bethany Project did.
“It is vital that there is an element of accountability and that very tight controls are put in place.
“We are willing to work with whoever managed the new facility and the site is on a beat area.”
The Express and Star revealed earlier this week that convicted criminals and people from outside the area could be eligible to move into the new £2.5 million homeless hostel.
Sponsored Links
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
It’s true that the Bethany Project had it’s problems but I think it’s important to remember what it was initially there to do. It’s purpose was to do exactly what the new facility will do but hopefully, having a purpose built property will make it easier to manage and a nicer place to live. Regardless of what the buliding looks like the people using the service will essentially be the same as the ones who used it before, where there come from is just geographics. These people will include drug users, hopefully looking to get help, alcoholics needing help,criminals being released from prison, often due to the lifestyles they lead and the minority who are homeless through no fault of their own i.e. relationship breakdowns. It would be nieve for anyone to think this service is going to be used purely by “upstanding members of the community” so no matter what, people are going to complain. What we need to ensure is that relationships are in place with external partnerships to allow people to be signposted to relevant agencies as quickly as possible and that any problems that do arise at the facility are dealt with quickly and efficiently by working effectively with the local police. At least by having these poeple here, they are all in one place and hopefully recieving support so they can move on and hopefully be accepted back into society. I live on an estate in Stafford that is plagued with problems much worse than any of those reported at the Bethany Project andnone of the people involved have been homeless so it cannot be said that the people it will attract will be any worse than those living among us.
Report abuse