Peabody’s Community Safety Team (CST) has added to its knowledge and expertise with the qualification of one of the CST officers, Oladapo Alao Odeleye (Dapo), as a Crime Prevention Officer through the National Policing Improvement Agency.
Dapo (pictured above) has completed a two-week training course to achieve this qualification. He'll expand this further with a Designing out Crime module training in 2012-13, to become a Crime Prevention Design Advisor.
This role often sits within the police or local authority, so it's an innovative step for a housing provider.
With this new qualification, alongside his case work, Dapo will be involved in crime prevention projects involving sanctuary schemes, recommendation of works to properties for vulnerable residents and victims of crime or domestic abuse, production of Environmental Visual Audit (EVA) reports.
"Peabody’s CST already provides a first class case management service supporting our residents and communities who are suffering from antisocial behaviour and crime," said Michelle Francis, team leader.
“Having a Crime Prevention Officer within the team will enable us to take this further and work with other colleagues, such as our Building Maintenance, Development and Asset Management teams, to advise on the physical features of our communities and make recommendations to design out crime."
Dapo’s qualification adds to the specialisms within the team. Alongside their “day job”, employees within the CST have the following specialisms and qualifications:
- 2 Independent Domestic Violence Advisors
- Witness Support Champion
- 12 Trained Mediators from the CST and Resident Services Department (formerly Neighbourhood Services)
- 2 Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities Parenting Facilitators
- Mental Health specialism and expertise
- Lead on gang crime and associated issues
- Safeguarding
The CST works on complex and high risk antisocial behaviour and crime cases. Dapo said:
"Now that I am a Crime Prevention Officer, I will be able to use my skills and knowledge to help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour on my estates and I am sure Peabody residents will receive this as good news.
"My trainer, Janet Caton confirmed that I was the first RSL ASB Practitioner to have completed the whole course."
Also in the news:
New affordable housing and improvements at Elmwood CourtNet Worx is two!
