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Criminal behaviour

Criminal behaviour can include (but is not limited to) criminal damage, verbal abuse, physical violence, threats of harm, prostitution, burglary and other property-related offences, fraud and deception offences, joyriding and other vehicle-related offences. In the majority of cases, committing a criminal offence will also be a breach of the tenancy terms and will lead to tenancy enforcement action.

If you believe that a crime has been committed, you should report it to the police by calling 999 in an emergency. In a non-emergency situation you should use 101 or use the police website or contact Crimestoppers.

Once you have notified the police, please also report the incident to us so that we are aware of the situation and can work to see what action we can take.

What you can do

Use the ASB App to record sounds, take photos and/or videos of the incident if safe to do so and create a log of the incidents.
If you are unable to access the ASB App, you can request ASB Incident Log Sheets from us by emailing ContactUs@lifestone.co.uk or calling 0300 303 1010.
Report any incidents to the police immediately (in addition to logging them with us).
Retain any physical evidence of the offence until the police have been able to investigate it as a crime scene.
Provide us with the references from any reports made to the police.
Support any legal actions by providing witness evidence and attending court to give evidence.
If the criminal behaviour involves violence or threats of violence, consider whether you might feel safer going to stay with a friend or family, but please let us and the police know where you are going if you do decide to do this so we can contact you if needed.

What we can do

Work with the police and support them to investigate the allegations.
Carry out our own investigation into the allegations only where this will not cut across or prevent any police investigation.
Work with other professional agencies that may be involved in supporting either you, your household, or the perpetrator.
Take appropriate tenancy enforcement action that can include applying to court for an injunction or seeking possession.
Where a person is successfully prosecuted by the police, we may be able to seek a mandatory possession order against the person if they are our tenant.
Offer help and support to the victims of crime, including making any safeguarding referrals if this is appropriate.
Consider installing “target hardening measures” to make the home of the victim safer if this is appropriate in the circumstances and it is what the victim wants.
Work with the police to use community remedies.
In extreme cases where a risk assessment indicates there is a high risk, we can provide temporary decant accommodation for customers experiencing harassment or stalking.

What other agencies can do

The police can arrest, charge and prosecute people alleged to have committed criminal offences.
The police can also apply for Closure Orders where the property is sealed up for three or six months. This usually happens in cases of concentrated criminal activity such as brothels or drug dens.
The police and other agencies are able to share the information and evidence they collect during their investigations so that Lifestone can take tenancy enforcement action, but sometimes this cannot happen until after the perpetrator has been prosecuted.
The police have the power to seize evidence and cordon off crime scenes. They may ask you to provide information and evidence to support their investigation.
The police are able to use other legal remedies aside from prosecution to help deter further hate crime incidents from taking place. For example, they can impose dispersal orders or use Community Protection Notices. The police can also seek Criminal Behaviour Orders following a successful prosecution which acts like an injunction to control behaviour.
There are other agencies and support programmes for people who are caught up in criminal activities but trying to reform.

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