Anti-social behaviour

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, anti-social behaviour is defined as conduct that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm, or distress to people not of the same household.

• Personal ASB – targeting a specific individual or group.
• Nuisance ASB – causing trouble, annoyance, or suffering to a wider community.
• Environmental ASB – actions affecting public spaces or the wider environment, such as abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping or vandalism.

• Minor disagreements between residents
• Domestic, every-day living noise and DIY at reasonable times
• One-off parties or celebrations (unless they escalate into ASB)
• Lifestyle difference
• Cooking smells
• Social media disputes between residents

Often the most effective way to resolve disagreements can be to discuss them with the person involved, as often people may not realise they are affecting others and are more than happy to make a change.  We would only encourage you to do this if you feel safe and comfortable to do so.

Where this is not appropriate, anti-social behaviour can be reported to your local manager who will investigate all reports in a fair and supportive manner, following our ASB policy and procedures. If you are unable to contact your local manager reports can be made via email: enquiries@housing21.org.uk

We will make initial contact to start investigations within 1 working for urgent cases such as hate crime and violence and 5 working days for less urgent cases.

If you believe you have witnessed or you are a victim of a crime or you or someone else is in immediate danger you can call the Police on 999 or 101 or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on  0800 555 111

We seek to resolve anti-social behaviour at the earliest possible stage. We have a range of remedies available, including but not limited to:

• Meetings

• Mediation

• Warning letters

• Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

• Good Neighbour Agreements

• Refusal of mutual exchange requests

Where appropriate and proportionate, we will consider legal action including:

 • Civil Injunction, including exclusion orders and power of arrest

• Closure orders

• Community Protection Notice/Warning

• Notice of Seeking Possession which could result in eviction (this is always a last resort)

If you believe you have witnessed or you are a victim of a crime, you can call the Police on 999 or 101 or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on  0800 555 111

·       ASB Help - ASB Help | Advice & support for Victims of Anti-Social Behaviour

·       Crimestoppers – Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers

·       Victim Support - Home - Victim Support

·       MIND – Mental Health - We're Mind, the mental health charity | Mind

Your right to a Case Review

Housing 21 recognise that a key element to supporting victims of persistent ASB is the ASB Case Review (formally Community Trigger). Introduced by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014), the Case Review is an important mechanism which enables victims of persistent ASB to request a multi-agency review of their case from any of the main responsible agencies (such as the local authority, police and housing providers).

Requests for ASB Case Reviews are managed via the local authority who decide if the threshold for a review has been met; we can support residents to raise with the local authority.

We also commit to learning from ASB Case Reviews, ensuring that any lessons learnt influence positive change within our approach to ASB.

Anti-social behaviour case review - GOV.UK