GRAVESEND: Crime hotspot children's home refused permanent status (From News Shopper)

GRAVESEND: Crime hotspot children's home refused permanent status

11:01am Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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A CHILDREN’S home which has been the source of 45 crimes and 34 arrests in three years has been refused permission to remain open permanently.

Action in Care Ltd applied to have St Andrews, the care home it runs for five young people aged up to 18, made a permanent fixture in The Avenue in Gravesend.

But Gravesham Council’s regulatory board rejected the application at a meeting on September 1, after hearing objections to the home from Kent police and residents of The Avenue.

Explaining the decision, a board spokesman said the home “has caused significant harm to the amenity of the surrounding residents by reason of antisocial behaviour, crime and general disturbance”.

He added: “The concerns of local residents have been substantiated through comments by Kent police that a proportionately high level of reported crime is associated with the property and the residents of the property.”

A Kent police report to the board revealed there have been 631 incidents reported and 45 crimes recorded since 2007, with residents at the home being arrested 34 times.

Residents sent a petition with 57 signatures and 13 letters to the board to oppose permanent status for the home, which has been open with termporary planning permission since 2004.

St Andrews currently has two 16-year-olds, two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old, and young people are referred there by London Council, which places children from the London boroughs in care homes.

Action in Care was granted a two-year extension to the temporary planning permission last year, but wanted permanent status so it can assure London Council children will be at the home long-term.