Wealden District Council
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Antisocial Behaviour Policy

Antisocial Behaviour Policy (Adopted June 2020)

Aims and Purpose of this Antisocial Behaviour Policy (ASB)

Housing Services is committed to preventing, tackling and managing ASB in accordance with the Housing Regulator’s Neighbourhood and Community Standard.

As a landlord, we have a duty, under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 to respond to ASB affecting the properties we manage. We now have a range of additional powers to take action against those causing ASB under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Our approach focuses on tackling ASB that either affects or is carried out by people living within our stock and the communities we serve. This includes tenants and leaseholders, their family members (including children) or friends, owner-occupiers, lodgers or private tenants.

This policy is consistent with our Domestic Abuse Policy and where appropriate should be read in conjunction with it.

The Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 defines ASB as: 

(a) conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person, 

(b) conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person’s occupation of residential premises, or 

(c) conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person.

Underpinning how we respond to all incidents of Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) are the following principles:

  • No one should have to experience anti-social behaviour.
  • All incidents of ASB will be treated seriously and dealt with professionally.
  • We will be flexible in the way we deal with reports of ASB, but all cases will be dealt with firmly, fairly and proportionately.
  • We will work with other agencies to deliver an effective, value for money service.
  • Where appropriate we will make use of the powers, orders and mechanisms available to us to deal with antisocial behaviour.
  • We will grade cases into priorities to ensure more serious cases are dealt with quicker than non-serious cases.

In tackling ASB we will:

  • Invest in communities where we have housing stock so that they are areas where people want to work and live.
  • Making it easy to report ASB.
  • Adopt a victim-orientated approach.
  • Be accessible and open to victims, whilst being realistic about what we can do and what constitutes ASB.
  • Take a balanced approach to manage ASB cases. Firstly, using a range of early intervention methods, where appropriate. This to be balanced against the need to take urgent action, often with Police, in the more serious cases. Secondly, by offering support and advice to both complainants and perpetrators.”
  • Be fair and proportionate in any action we take against perpetrators of ASB.
  • Place emphasis on initial assessment, risk assessment, early intervention, support and regular contact with the complainant.
  • Bring cases to an early conclusion.
  • Acknowledge that not all situations will constitute ASB.
  • Work in partnership with other agencies.
  • Invest in staff training and IT solutions.
  • Being active participants of partnership groups such as the Safer Wealden Partnership.
  • Send a clear message we will not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment, discrimination or victimisation because of a person’s age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin or religion.

The Housing Service uses an ASB management system which has been tailored to our procedure to record and monitor all cases of ASB. Additionally, a secure system is used to obtain and share information on ASB across partners e.g. police.

By ensuring this policy meets residents and our needs we will:

  • Review it and our procedure at least every three years.
  • Consult and involve residents in shaping the policy and procedure.
  • Carrying out satisfaction surveys that will feed into any review.

Consideration will be given to publicity on a case by case basis as necessary.

Any complaints about how a case of ASB has been handled will to be dealt with through the Council’s complaints procedure. An outcome of the complaints procedure may be that changes to existing practices are recommended. In this way the effectiveness of the ASB procedure will continue to be under scrutiny.

If you wish to make a complaint about ASB please click this link Anti-Social Behaviour Reporting – My Wealden

Wealden District Council is committed to ensuring that individual’s privacy is protected and will only use and store personal data in line with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our Privacy Policy sets out how we collect, use and securely hold personal data. For more information visit our Data Protection page.

The information provided will be treated confidentially at all times. Security safeguards apply to both manual and electronically held data and only relevant staff can access this information. As a data controller, we also have a responsibility to make sure individuals know why and how their personal information is being used in accordance with relevant data protection law.