A South Shields' police force wants landlords to share information about their tenants living in HMOs. The council is seriously considering putting together formal agreements that landlords would be 'asked' to sign up to.

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The local press reported that over the last few months the council has been repeatedly discussing anti-social behaviour of tenants in HMOs and the police force has now stepped into the discussions.

A neighbourhood officer, PC Jo Pepper, took part in a council meeting on this matter and told those present how useful it would be to everyone if tenant information was shared between landlords and the force.

She said: “It also benefits HMO owners because we're not knocking on their door looking for someone who left last week. We want to share information with owners and have a good relationship with them.

“I would like to know what convictions they have got and where they're living so I know that if I need to safeguard people around them I can."

It has been reported that the council is seriously considering the possibility of requesting landlords and agents to sign Information Sharing Agreements.

The agreements will only be applied on a case to case scenario under a legasl process, and apparently would not be compulsory.

PC Pepper also told the meeting there has always been what she classed as "red tape" around private HMOs in trying to find out who exactly is living in the properties.

She said: "I have some landlords who are great and very proactive and want our help and I have others who say I can't come in without a warrant.”

The council will be making a decision in the next few months.

Richard Merrick of PIMS, said: " Surely this is ridiculous, not only are landlords having to act as part of the Border Control, there is every chance that if this goes ahead, it will of course be ported across to other councils ending up with landlords becoming part of a nationwide community policing team.