Coast & Country staff are among the first people to gain a new national qualification.

Tenancy Enforcement Officers Antony Sharp and Mike Peel have passed the first Btec advanced award in Neighbourhood Nuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour Case Working.

Both have been with the Company since September 2004, when Coast & Country expanded its Tenancy Enforcement Team.

Their jobs involve investigating serious breaches of tenancy conditions, resolving cases of harassment and anti-social behaviour and taking relevant enforcement action again perpetrators.

The aim of the new qualification is to further enhance the professionalism of staff, equip employees to take on more complex cases, and enable managers to supervise case work more effectively.

Iain Sim, Chief Executive, said: "Anti-social behaviour can take its toll on residents' quality of life and Coast & Country is determined to do all it can to prevent or put a stop to such incidents.

"This involves us equipping our staff with the skills and knowledge to do the best job possible to ensure Coast & Country neighbourhoods are a pleasant place to live, as well as working in partnership with a wide range of agencies.

"Antony and Mike being in the first cohort to obtain this new qualification reflects Coast & Country's commitment to making a stand against anti-social behaviour."

The Btec programme is designed and delivered by some of the UK's leading experts in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and it is supported by the Chartered Institute of Housing.