Children's home pledges to tackle problems

A NEW policy to end harassment, intimidation and vandalism by youngsters from Anderida children's home was hammered out on Tuesday.

Recently-appointed home manager Allan Hall met Bexhill sector commander Inspector Max Mosley at Bexhill police station.

The session followed a lively public meeting on the issue in St Barnabas' Church last Friday.

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After a two-hour meeting Inspector Mosley read a joint statement.

"The management of the home were genuinely unaware of the level of public concern and therefore they have had a full copy of the minutes of the meeting.

"They accept all the points that were raised at the meeting as learning opportunities for them at the home. They are going to take that away. They are going to develop an action plan with the East Sussex County Council inspection team.

"There will be six-weekly meetings between Mr Hall and myself. There will be regular meetings between the management of the home and the rest of my team here.

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"The staff issues will be addressed by the inspection unit and the senior management of the home.

"We will open a line of communication where it is much much easier for difficulties to be identified and the management of the home - which will be Mr Hall - promise that every complaint, and that means every complaint, made by a member of the public will be thoroughly and robustly investigated by the home or a member of the staff.

"The telephone number, 24 hours a day, is 01323 410655 and that can be used to raise any point of concern in respect of the activities of Anderida Children's Home.

"Clearly, from a police point of view, if there are offences being committed it is in everyone's interests still to telephone 999.

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"In any other situation associated with anti-social behaviour people can use the 0845 6070999 number.

"The home will work with the police to identify any offenders who have been the subject of anti-social behaviour that may be talked about in the pro forma statement sheets issued at the public meeting.

"The home are confident that the main cause of the problem was an individual has now moved away and is unlikely to return.

"The home do apologise for the impact that they have had in the general community and would like to reassure them that steps will be taken to put these matters right.

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"It will take time. But apart from the regular meetings we have scheduled a review meeting for six months' time when the public can be guaranteed that the police and the inspection unit will have ensured that all these problems will be by then in the past."

Mr Hall said: "I now have a clear understanding. I did not realise that there was this level of concern. When I came, all I saw was positive inspection reports. I will be meeting regularly with the inspector to tell him what measures I intend to bring in.

"We are going to listen to what they are saying."