What is Anti Social Behaviour?
Is there anything I can do before I contact you?
Who will deal with my case?
How do I report an incident?
Will my details be kept confidential?
What will happen once I have reported an incident?
How long will it take to investigate a complaint?
Will I have to go to court?
Who can help?
Answers
What is Anti Social Behaviour?
Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) can range from noisy neighbours and overgrown gardens to serious violence. It includes general nuisance, different types of conduct or activities that could cause nuisance in a community and any unwanted behaviour.
Is there anything I can do before I contact you?
In cases of noise nuisance, for example, it is a good idea to approach the person causing the nuisance, if you feel safe to do so, to let them know that their behaviour is causing a problem. They may not be aware of it. Try to stay calm and if this doesn’t work, contact your Housing and Support Officer.
Who will deal with my case?
In the first instance it will be your Housing and Support Officer. They will be familiar with the area you live in and the person causing the nuisance may already be known to them. They will be able to tell you what steps to take.
How do I report an incident?
To report an incident of Anti Social Behaviour you can:
IN AN EMERGENCY, ALWAYS CALL 999
Will my details be kept confidential?
Although we treat all information you give us and all discussions we have with you in confidence, it may be necessary for us to speak to the person responsible for the ASB but we would not tell them who made the complaint.
What will happen once I have reported an incident?
When you first report the ASB or harassment to us, we will ask for full details of what happened and who was involved. The information you provide will help us to decide what action to take. Once this information has been gathered, the Community Sustainment Officer will arrange to meet with you to discuss possible action to be taken. A proposed action plan will then be drawn up to address your complaint.
How long will it take to investigate a complaint?
This depends on the type of complaint. In cases of serious ASB, we can take action very quickly. In less serious cases, we will try to resolve an issue at a ‘low level’ in the first instance. It is important we gather evidence if the ASB continues. We will keep you up to date of our progress throughout the investigation.
Will I have to go to Court?
Not necessarily, but it provides a stronger case than hearsay evidence. In some circumstances we may not be able to progress the case to Court without the support of witnesses but this is not in every case. Hearsay evidence can be used but adds less weight to the case. We can arrange, in some circumstances, witness support to help you through the process.
Who can help?
It is important you speak to us so the Community Sustainment Officer dealing with your case can keep a log of incidents. There are other agencies who can offer support, advice and assistance:
