Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP Sylvia Heal has backed a new scheme to deal with problem families that makes people's lives a misery through anti-social behaviour.

The new initiative announced this month will establish a network of family intervention projects across the country, including one in Sandwell.

The Sandwell Family Intervention Project (FIP) will be run by the council's youth offending team in conjunction with a voluntary sector organisation.

Sylvia said: "I am pleased that a Family Intervention Project is to be launched in Sandwell, the project is part of the government's Respect Agenda to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"It will help improve the lives of the small number of problematic families, while having a positive impact on not just the families involved but neighbours and the local community as a whole."

There will be five members of staff working in the FIP including three key workers.

The team will work with highly problematic families who despite years of intervention are continuing to damage themselves, their children and the local community.

The team will do so on an outreach basis in managed properties across the whole of the Sandwell.

By the end of 2007 the capacity of the project will be 15 families.

Family Intervention Projects are a way to improve the behaviour of anti-social families using a mix of practical help, intensive support and enforcement action.

The small number of existing schemes demonstrate in the case of 85 per cent of families that take part complaints about anti-social behaviour cease or reduce and in nine out of ten cases the risk to the local community is significantly reduced or eradicated.