Charity awarded £63,000 to talk to Brighton street drinkers (From The Argus)

Brighton Housing Trust and CRI awarded £63,000 to talk to street drinkers

12:50pm Monday 13th February 2012 in News By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter

The task of getting street drinkers and traders to be nice to each other was never going to be easy.

But charity staff will be helped in the difficult task after being awarded a £63,000 grant.

Shoppers and workers often feel intimidated by groups of people gathering on the streets with cans and bottles.

Meanwhile, the drinkers may be so wrapped up in their own world, they are not aware of the impact they are having and problems can then arise.

However, help is now on the way to try to ease tensions between the groups.

The Brighton Housing Trust (BHT) and the CRI crime reduction charity have been awarded £63,000 to run the pilot community street drinkers engagement project.

The money comes from the Community Development Foundation, under its Community Action Against Crime Innovation Fund.

The aim is to improve relations and ease tensions between street drinkers and other members of the community and will focus on two hotspots – the Level in Brighton and Blatchington Road in Hove.

Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council regularly receive complaints about street drinking and antisocial behaviour in these areas, with people reporting they feel intimidated and unsafe.

A specialist, most likely a nurse, will work alongside the CRI’s rough sleeper street services and relocation team to try to tackle the problem.

BHT director of homelessness and complex needs, |Nikki Homewood, said: “We are really looking forward to starting this targeted work with street drinkers to seek ways to improve community relations and reduce fear of crime.

“Working with both groups to find mutually agreeable solutions will, we hope, bring positive changes to both the street community and local residents and traders.”

Sergeant Richard Siggs of Sussex Police said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring two communities together so they can work together in finding solutions.

“As far as we are aware this is the first such project in the country and we're extremely pleased to be a part of it."

Peter Allinson, vice chairman of the North Laine Traders Association, said: “Brighton and Hove has a massive tourism environment and the profile of the city as a place to visit is important for us.

“Anything that may lead to street drinkers behaving in a better way in public places and to help the concerns of local businesses is to be welcomed.”

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