Anti-Social behaviour

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is a broad term used to describe the day-to-day incidents of crime, nuisance and disorder that can make many people’s lives a misery from litter and vandalism to public drunkenness or noisy and abusive neighbours. Such a wide range of behaviour means that responsibility for dealing with anti-social behaviour is shared between a number of agencies, particularly the police, councils and housing providers.

Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 Across a consistent approach has been developed to support all agencies involved in the use of the new legislation, aiming to provide victims of anti-social behaviour with a coherent and effective response. The Act includes new measures designed to give victims a say in the way anti-social behaviour is dealt with and provides information on ASB case reviews (also known as the Community Trigger) from 20 October 2014.

We know that, where left unchecked, anti-social behaviour can have an overwhelming impact on its victims and, in some cases, on the wider community. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced specific measures designed to give victims and communities a say in the way that complaints of anti-social behaviour are dealt with. This includes the Community Trigger (also known as the ASB case review).

Victims of anti-social behaviour will be able to request a case review if they feel that agencies have not taken action in respect of their complaint, and where the case meets the locally defined threshold.

For the purpose of the ASB case review, anti-social behaviour is defined as behaviour “causing harassment, alarm or distress” to any member of the public. However, when deciding whether the threshold is met agencies should consider the harm or potential harm caused to the victim, rather than rigidly deciding whether each incident reached the level of harassment, alarm or distress.

Instances when someone has requested a case review and the threshold is met, relevant bodies including district Councils, the Police, clinical commissioning groups and housing providers have a duty to undertake an ASB case review. The purpose of the ASB case review is for agencies to take a more joined up, problem solving approach to review what action have previously been taken and decide whether there are additional actions that can be taken.

The ASB case review can also be used by any person on behalf of a victim, for example a family member, friend, carer, Councillor, MP or other professional person. It is intended to ensure that all victims are able to use the review, however, the victim’s consent should be sought by the person using the ASB case review on their behalf.

The ASB case review can be used by someone of any age, and agencies should make it as accessible as possible to all victims.

You can ask for an ASB case review if you:

• have reported anti-social behaviour to us, Essex Police or a housing provider 3 or more times in the last 6 months
• have reported a hate crime incident us, Essex Police or a housing provider 3 or more times in the last 6 months
• have reported the anti-social behaviour or hate crime within one month of the alleged incident taking place