Antisocial behaviour

Before you make your report, use our ASB Toolkit to find out what steps you need to take. You can then report ASB by calling us on 0300 303 1010 or using our ASB Report Form here.

Although you may make reports of ASB anonymously, sometimes this can limit the actions we can take. We will not disclose your identity if you do not want us to.

If the incident is serious or criminal in nature, you should contact the police.  If the incident relates to environmental issues such as pets, noise or dumping rubbish, then you should also consider making a report to your local authority’s Environmental Health Department.

It can be difficult to talk to the person who you feel is responsible for the ASB.  You may fear it will make the problem worse or the conversation might be awkward. Before doing this consider your expectations and the person’s lifestyle/living circumstances. Talking about the issue can help break down barriers and avoid a build-up of stress and frustration later but it is important to you consider your personal safety before doing so.

Here are our tips for talking to your neighbour about ASB:

• Use conversation as the focus, rather than making demands or warnings which may immediately cause a defensive response.
• Try to avoid making it personal, concentrate on the impact the situation is having on you. This may help the other person to understand how they might feel in the same situation with roles reversed.
• See if you can come to an agreement.

If the person believed to be responsible for the ASB is not a customer of Paradigm, we will support you in approaching the relevant agency that may be able to assist you. We cannot pursue any action against the person believed to be responsible for the antisocial behaviour.

When we receive your report, we will contact you to obtain further details of the antisocial behaviour you are experiencing. We will aim to do this within one working day wherever possible.

We will apply the following definitions when providing our ASB service:

Reporter: The person submitting the initial ASB report and providing details of the issues they are experiencing.  Our contact with this person will then normally be via a personalised action plan and agreement.

Victim: This may be the reporter or, another person who has directly experienced antisocial behaviour.  Our contact with this person will then normally be via a personalised action plan and agreement.

Alleged perpetrator:  The person the reporter believes to be responsible for the anti-social behaviour. Our contact with this individual will be led by the reported behaviour.

Witness: A person who may have witnessed or observed the reported incident of anti-social behaviour.  Our contact with this person will be as needed.

We will confirm the details of your report and agree on an action plan.  The action plan will confirm what is required of you as the reporter to progress the case.

• This is likely to include keeping diary sheets to record incidents of antisocial behaviour which may be used as evidence.
• Make recordings of any disturbances/excessive noise by using The Noise App
• Contacting other agencies like the police to report criminal matters

The plan will also specify what actions we will be taking, for example, we may:

• Speak to the alleged perpetrator
• Liaise with relevant agencies
• Review evidence received such as diary sheets and Noise App recordings
• We will also discuss how you would prefer to be contacted and agree on a timescale with you to keep you informed of progress.

All reports will be dealt with promptly and sensitively in line with your views and wishes and our ASB Policy.  We will discuss your report with you in confidence and will not reveal your identity to your neighbour or anybody else unless you agree to this being done.  In most cases, the first step to take would be for us to contact the alleged perpetrator.  They would need to be made aware of their behaviour and the problems that it’s causing so that they have an opportunity to make any necessary changes. However, it is important to know that some reports may take time to deal with.

After we have spoken to the alleged perpetrator and taken any relevant actions, we will monitor the situation to see whether their behaviour improves.  To do this, we will need you to help us by:

• Writing down the dates and times that problems happen
• Telling us how it has affected you and made you feel
• Letting us know if anyone else has witnessed the problem as well
• Whether you have reported the issues to any external agencies and provide their details

Going forward we will manage your case by:

• Reviewing any new reports received
• Examining new evidence
• Using non-legal remedies including verbal and written warnings, the use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, Good Neighbour Agreements and support/specialist agency referrals.
• Mediation or conflict resolution
• Discussing outcomes with you before case closure

If a case progresses to legal action we will support you in this, as we explain below.

If informal attempts to resolve antisocial behaviour have failed we may, on rare occasions, progress cases to a legal resolution. This can be a lengthy process which may face legal challenges and processes not necessarily under our control. Cases are strengthened when reporters come forward and are willing to attend court in person.  We will provide any support necessary to help in this process.

Legal action remedies may include:

• Civil injunctions: These can be used to stop someone from behaving in a way that is causing nuisance, distress, and annoyance.
• Enforcement action: refers to appropriate measures taken against the alleged perpetrator’s Tenancy Agreement which may place the person’s home at risk.

Should any of these actions become necessary we will discuss it in more detail with you.

We often work with different agencies to find the most appropriate solution to problems. This provides the foundation for tackling ASB in our communities by sharing knowledge and working on joint plans, which helps achieve positive results.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 emphasises the importance of cooperation and guides agencies working with others to ensure that victims of ASB do not feel they are being passed from one agency to another.

The act includes six remedies, some of which can be used by the police and local authorities.  These are:

• Civil injunctions: as mentioned under ‘What happens if a case is subject to legal action by you’ (generally used by social housing landlords)
• Criminal Behaviour Orders: These can be imposed on someone convicted of a crime if the court thinks they will continue to cause anti-social behaviour without an order being in place (used by Police)
• Community Protection Notices and pre-warnings: These are designed to stop ongoing environmental and personal anti-social behaviour. They can be used against individuals or organisations (used by police and local authorities).

• Public Spaces Protection Order: These can be used to tackle a particular nuisance or problem in a public area. The order will apply to everyone using that area – examples might be a no-dog zone or no alcohol consumption (used by police or local authorities).

• Closure Powers and Dispersal Powers: These involve the closure of premises to prevent or deal with public nuisance and disorder and involve the issuing of a closure notice followed by a closure order. We can then use this to repossess a property (used by police or local authorities).

• ASB Case Review (also known as a Community Trigger): This allows reporters to request that agencies deal with reports of persistent ASB through a multi-agency review of their case. To activate an ASB Case review you must contact the local authority you live in and make an application with them.

Please refer to our list of useful contacts.