Supporting Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week
We are proud to support ASB (anti-social behaviour) Awareness Week; bringing together people and organisations from across the country to take a stand against anti-social behaviour and make communities safer.
Running from 3rd to 9th July, ASB Awareness Week aims to encourage communities to take a stand against ASB and highlight the options available to those facing it.
The week of action is bringing together people and organisations from across the country to take a stand and work together to make communities safer.
Organised by RESOLVE, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, the week features a series of events all across the UK involving Councils, Police Forces, Housing Associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs.
ASB Awareness Week is being backed by the Home Office, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Local Government Association, National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council.
If you are experiencing ASB please report it to us here, by emailing us or calling 01452 424344. However, if you are in immediate need of assistance, or if a crime is in progress, then phone 999.
To report to the police please phone 101 (non-emergency number) or report to the Police online. If you wish to report crime anonymously then you can report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report online.
If you do make a report to the Police, please let GCH know that this has happened along with any incident/crime numbers.
Which agency is responsible for my ASB report?
GCH
As a landlord, we tackle anti-social behaviour that is a breach of tenancy. This includes things like:
- Noise nuisance
- Fly-tipping
- Verbal abuse
The Police
The police investigate criminal offences. Following on from these investigations, if they are proven, it may be that this proves a breach of tenancy and then we, as the landlord, may be able to deal with this.
Things that are criminal offences and therefore should be reported to the police first include:
- Drugs – taking of or suspicions of drug dealing
- Assault
The Local Authority (Council)
The Council has an Environmental Health Team who investigate serious noise nuisance and fly-tipping. They have the power to prosecute or confiscate equipment. Following on from these investigations, if they are proven, it may be that the proves a breach of tenancy and then we, as the landlord, may be able to deal with this.
GCH will work in partnership with these agencies to assist in their investigations and provide advice and support to complainants.
Our key priority is always to try and resolve or stop the anti-social behaviour happening. Evictions are very rare and always a last resort.
The ASB Case Review
You may feel like you have nowhere to turn for help. You may have reported the anti-social behaviour but no-one seems to be doing anything and no-one is listening but the anti-social behaviour is continuing. The ASB Case Review has been designed for you.
If you are a victim of repeat ASB, and if you have reported this (usually 3 times) and are unsatisfied with the response, you can request an ASB Case Review (formerly known as the Community Trigger) through your local police or local council.
Read more about the ASB Case Review here.
Recent ASB cases we have dealt with
At GCH, your Neighbourhood Managers deal with low level ASB and tenancy breaches. We also have two Community Safety and Enforcement Managers who address serious anti-social behaviour, managing safeguarding cases and tenancy breaches. Here are some of the cases they have been working on recently to give you an idea about what they get up to:
One of our Community Safety and Enforcement Managers was asked for advice on getting a customer’s locks changed but on investigation, found something a lot more sinister. The vulnerable customer was being ‘cuckooed’ with his money and medication being stolen. She arranged for him to be removed from the abusive situation and given immediate medical help and rehabilitation
Customer A complained to GCH about arguments and loud music from the flat above. which became worse as time went on. It reached the point where they were being disturbed daily throughout the day and into the early hours of the morning. Being unable to sleep was affecting their work and impacting their child who was studying for exams.
On investigation, our Neighbourhood Manager found that the noisy neighbour Customer B, was struggling with problems of their own which was contributing to the anti-social behaviour. They referred them to other agencies for help and support. As the disturbances continued the council’s environmental health department and the police were involved, which only aggravated the problems. Customer A was targeted personally by Customer B, including verbal abuse and threats to harm them and their child. Not only were they sleep deprived, they were also now scared for their own safety.
Continuing the partnership working with police, our Community Safety & Enforcement Manager became involved and gathered all the evidence available from Customer A and the police. An application to court was made for a civil injunction against Customer B. The injunction was granted and is working. Customer A has not experienced any noise disturbances or anti-social behaviour from Customer B since the injunction order was granted. As a result, Customer A and their child are much more relaxed in their home, are sleeping well and functioning better daily.