Children's care home approved despite crime fears

A home on Constable Road, Ipswich, will become a children's care home

A new children's care home has been approved by councillors despite crime concerns.

Compass Children's Homes' wanted to house five children, aged seven to 17, in a two-storey house in Constable Road, Ipswich.

Suffolk Police highlighted that young residents could be at risk of exploitation and residents said there could be more anti-social behaviour in the area.

However, the home said it had a strong track record and there was no reason looked-after children would more likely be involved with crime. Councillors approved the plans at a Wednesday meeting seven votes to four against.

The house, which sits one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the town centre would also include two staff "sleep-in" rooms, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Forty-nine residents wrote a total of 62 letters objecting against the home while there were three representations in favour.

During the meeting, councillors heard from Jamie Cason, who spoke on behalf of the residents.

He shared several concerns including parking, the size of the garden, fear of crime, and the number of rooms - although the two ‘sleep in’ rooms are not considered bedrooms in a traditional sense, residents feared they would effectively be used as such.

Mr Cason also suggested several amendments to the plans, such as reducing the number of children that would be in care from five to three.

The reduction was welcomed by some councillors who shared several of the concerns raised by the residents.

Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee met on Wednesday to discuss the plans

Pete Hylton, director of residential services at Compass Children's Homes, said there was no reason to believe antisocial behaviour would be more likely among children being cared for, and stressed the company’s strong track record in providing the service.

Criminal activity concerns were shared by Suffolk Police who, in their representation, said residents were likely to be vulnerable, and at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation.

Despite raising no objection, the force suggested the installation of CCTV to monitor criminal behaviour and called for it to be one of the conditions.

Other Ipswich Borough Council councillors at the meeting rejected suggestions the plans would lead to criminal behaviour.