Anti-social behaviour victims given ‘voice’ with new campaign
Review process will see if enough is being done to tackle repeat issues
A NEW campaign is encouraging victims of anti-social behaviour to seek support.
Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office is raising awareness of the anti-social behaviour (ASB) case review, a powerful tool allowing repeat victims to request action if they have reported incidents but are unhappy with the response they received.
It includes posters, social media and flyers asking ‘Do you keep experiencing anti-social behaviour?’ and signposting those who do to the ASB case review process.
Once an application is made, it is reviewed by an independently chaired panel who will make recommendations for problem-solving the issue using the expertise of agencies including the police, local authority, housing providers and health.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: “This important campaign offers hope to anyone who has reported repeat anti-social behaviour but doesn’t feel that enough has been done to tackle the issue.
“ASB case reviews can be invaluable in giving victims a voice, helping them to seek support in addressing a problem that can be harmful to individuals, businesses and our wider communities.
“Police, councils, housing associations and others all work together to tackle ASB through Community Safety Partnerships and I’ve committed funding to strengthen these, as where problems are repeated, people can feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.”
Previously known as the Community
Trigger, the ASB case review gives victims and communities the right to request a review of their case where a specific threshold is met:
They must have reported three separate, related ASB incidents to the police, local authority or housing; provider within the last six months
The ASB must still be continuing;
All incidents should have been reported within 30 days of them taking place.
Mr Adams added: “In Staffordshire, we’ve seen a reduction in
ASB in recent years, and my office is leading on a range of initiatives to drive it down even further.
“I’m looking forward to more people being able to enjoy their neighbourhoods and public spaces with less nuisance, vandalism and threat as a result of our interventions.”
If you meet the threshold, you can request a case review via theasbcasereviewpage on the Staffordshire Police website.