Putting theory into practice

Race Action Net's toolkit for tackling racial harassment sets out what all social landlords can do to prevent, report and act on racial harassment. It offers guidance on how to implement Tackling Racial Harassment: Code of Practice for Social Landlords, which was commissioned by the Housing Corporation, the DETR and the National Assembly for Wales in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

The toolkit includes examples from social landlords who took part in the research that led to its development. It is published online and will be updated regularly with new examples of how social landlords have implemented the code. So if you've got an example to share, we'd like to hear from you.

In the mean time, here are some of the solutions landlords have developed to meet the five requirements of the code of practice: multi-agency working; prevention and publicity; encouraging reporting and monitoring; supporting victims and witnesses and action against perpetrators.

Multi-agency working: Hounslow
Hounslow council, the local police and probation service and all registered social landlords operating in the area have developed a joint protocol for antisocial behaviour orders. The protocol sets out a commitment to follow Home Office guidance, and describes the consultation process needed before individual ASBOs are sought. It identifies lead agencies involved in serving ASBOs, and determines who does what to monitor and publicise cases. It also lists key officers in signature agencies and other useful contacts.

Prevention: Sanctuary Housing Association
Worcester-based Sanctuary Housing Association has developed a "good neighbour declaration" in which residents accept that looking after the estate is not just the landlord's responsibility but theirs too. As well as keeping streets clean and tidy, neighbours sign up to zero tolerance of all kinds of harassment, including racial. In signing the declaration, residents agree on what is reasonable behaviour and what will not be tolerated.

Reporting: Portsmouth Housing Association
Portsmouth Housing Association has set a target to increase the number of reports of racial harassment it receives by 25% over the next year. This target will act as a performance indicator because research shows that many tenants experiencing racial harassment in their homes do not report incidents to their landlord, so a rise in reports may reflect greater confidence by tenants that something will be done.

Sanctuary has developed a ‘good neighbour declaration’ in which residents accept that looking after the estate is not just the landlord’s job

Victim support: Peabody Trust
In London, the Peabody Trust operates a transfers and allocations system for victims of race hate whereby they can either request or be recommended for a transfer. Managers can also recommend a transfer for victims whose safety is being jeopardised. When a suitable property is not available, Peabody aims to support victims who might have to wait for a transfer.

Continued support can be given once the victim has moved. And for people needing emergency rehousing, the trust works with local authorities and other RSLs to provide temporary accommodation pending an offer of a transfer by Peabody.

Action against perpetrators: Ealing Family Housing Association
Race Action Net's alternatives to eviction toolkit sets out many approaches that social landlords can use in dealing with perpetrators of racial harassment: proactive, preventive and legal measures (HT 13 June 2003, page 51).

Ealing Family Housing Association has adopted the preventive approach; it was the first RSL in the London borough of Hillingdon to set up an acceptable behaviour contract. Following meetings with residents and between the housing officer and the "homebeat" local police officer, a contract was formulated and signed by the area sergeant, the young person concerned, their parent and Ealing Family.