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ANTI-SOCIAL FAMILIES IN THE ‘SIN BIN’
Parents and children watched round clock away from homes
SIX troubled families have been forced from their homes by Westminster Council and placed in ‘sin bins’ where they will be monitored 24 hours a day.
The families have been targeted as the worst behaved in Westminster.
They were given the ultimatum by the council to either move temporarily or face permanent eviction.
A specialist team will “manage” them making sure the parents carry out basic tasks such as feeding their children and putting them to bed on time.
The scheme, which is being rolled out across London, is the latest phase of the government’s controversial Respect Agenda, targeting anti-social behaviour.
A spokeswoman for civil liberties campaign group Liberty said the families would be given no choice but to leave.
She said: “They are telling the families that unless they go in for the scheme, they will be evicted permanently. We would not agree with that.
“The fact that the government are resorting to having to bribe local authorities to sign up for their gimmicks betrays just how unsuccessful it has been so far.”
But Tory Councillor Sarah Richardson said the scheme would save the councilhundreds of thousands of pounds each year.
She said: “Anti-social behaviour is a serious problem that can blight the lives of whole communities. We will be focusing on the most problematic families in Westminster who persistently perpetrate anti-social behaviour.”
New Labour’s Respect Agenda has been criticised as draconian in its efforts to cut crime in the capital.
Westminster receives £395,000 for the project which aims to combat anti-social behaviour, homelessness, to improve children’s attendance at school, and to reduce teenage pregnancy and alcohol and substance misuse.
Families put on to the project will face an intense regime aimed at changing their behaviour. They will be under daily supervision, will be assessed weekly and, in the worst cases, will be moved out of their homes.
A contract will be agreed with the family setting out the change in behaviour expected, the support that will be provided, and the possible punishments.
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