Free mediation service for residents
A newly-expanded free mediation service from Kingston University in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has been launched to help tackle disputes with loans to noisy neighbours.
A newly-expanded free mediation service from Kingston University in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has been launched to help tackle disputes with loans to noisy neighbours.
The initiative, aimed at solving various disputes ranging from the position of a fence, parking spaces and noisy pets to family disputes about money lent and not returned, is designed to stop neighbourhood or family disputes developing into years of unpleasantness, or even spilling into violence.
The pilot was launched last week and will run until the end of March.
Trevor Quy, the police liaison coordinator at Kingston University, said: The police in Kingston receive, on average, 63 complaints relating to neighbour disputes every single month. And these are just the ones that reach us. We know that other disputes are simply tolerated but can cause problems for a very long time.
A colleague of mine recently dealt with one dispute that had lasted for nine years. Sometimes the situation is intolerable, creating great personal stress, and I am pleased that Kingston University and the police can now offer a potential way out of a difficult situation.
One of the big advantages of the service is that mediation can begin within days of the initial request, rather than people having to apply to get on protracted waiting lists. In addition, the sessions are always in an independent location and there is strict confidentiality for all parties.
Pamela Sellman, lecturer in law at Kingston University, added that mediation may be a solution for people who find themselves in a dispute with neighbours, families or some other party, as a means of restoring good relationships.
She said: We are experienced mediators and because we fully support the universitys aim to be involved in and provide more support for the local community, were happy to donate our expertise and time. Id like to urge anyone with an issue to consider the service.
As part of the initiative, the mediator would first see each party separately in a private meeting and then, should the parties agree to proceed, a joint meeting would then be arranged.
We aim to ensure a safe, non-threatening environment where each person can have an open and honest dialogue with the other people present, added Ms Sellman.
The service was initially designed to assist in student disputes and run by two senior university-trained and accredited mediators.