DESPITE the fact that there are no lawyers in Charter Housing's nuisance prevention team, they have won every case they have taken to court - bringing relief to communities and saving about £100,000 in legal fees.

In less than two years, the six-strong team has successfully sought 38 injunctions or undertakings without using solicitors or barristers.

But while the tough stance is getting results, the staff do try to settle such problems with mediation in the first instance.

And they also have an outreach worker who works alongside the perpetrators in a bid to provide them with support and put them in touch with other organisations that can help to prevent further re-offending.

The extent of the team's work does not end with a successful injunction or court case and the provision of support to all witnesses involved in a case is always at the forefront of the team's focus. Other housing associations and local authorities have asked Newport-based Charter Housing for details of their approach and team manager John Priday is due to visit the Home Office to talk about their work later this month.

Mr Priday said the team was set up in October 2003 in response to a survey of tenants who expressed concern about the way the association was dealing with anti-social behaviour.

The injunctions seek to impose conditions on tenants relating to their behaviour and the team has also returned to court in a number of cases when those injunctions have been breached.

"It has made a big difference and the vast majority of injunctions work very well," said Mr Priday. "We have taken them out against tenants because of the behaviour of their children. It is not unusual for people to say they cannot control their children but it has helped in these difficult cases."

Support of tenants was needed when cases are taken to court, he said, and the team was fortunate that residents have been prepared to work in partnership.

Mr Priday said injunctions were used to try to stop anti-social behaviour without anyone losing their home - although eviction is a final resort. But he added that two thirds of complaints were resolved without going to court.

Charter has just under 4,000 tenants. "There are just a small number of people causing problems but they can make the life of the community hell," he said.