- What is Anti-social behaviour?
- What can be done about Anti-social behaviour?
- What is Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC)?
- What is the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO)?
- Anti-Social Behaviour Problem Solving Group?
- Are all cases of anti-social behaviour recorded?
- Will I have to give evidence?
- If I report an individual for anti-social behaviour, will they know I reported them?
What is Anti-social behaviour?
The term anti-social behaviour can be used when discussing issues such as different as neighbour disputes to fly-posting. People can experience anti-social behaviour in many different ways. These issues may not affect you directly but they do effect the community and people's quality of life.
Examples include:
- Intimidating gatherings of young people in public places
- Damage to cars and property, including graffiti and vandalism
- Using and selling drugs
- Alcohol and solvent abuse
- Uncontrolled pets and animals
- Harassment, including racist and homophobic incidents
- Nuisance from vehicles, including abandonment
- Nuisance from business use
- Riding motorcycles on footpaths
What can be done about Anti-social behaviour?
The government has responded to anti-social behaviour by providing agencies with a toolkit to tackle the issue. The use of ASBOs, injunctions, ABC (Acceptance Behaviour Contracts) and dispersal orders are available to partner agencies to combat anti-social behaviour.
As well as dealing with the behaviour with enforcement, the Partnership offers support programmes that are used to address the issues behind why the behaviour is taking place. The Partnership offers advice on substance misuse, runs crime prevention programmes, participates in diversionary activities, funding summer schemes, youth-shelters, multi-use games areas. The Saffer Blaenau Gwent Community Safety Partnership has in place a mechanism for identifying individuals whose persistent anti-social behaviour causes problems within our communities and for considering appropriate action to seek to modify such behaviour, this may or may not include considering applying for an ASBO or the use of an ABC. The Partnership operates a 4 strike system in dealing with anti-social behaviour.
- Strike 1 - 1st stage warning letter
- Strike 2 - 2nd stage final warning notice
- Strike 3 - Multi agency meeting called to discuss alleged behaviour and look at how to address it. As a result of this meeting the perpetrator may be invited to sign an ABC. If the perpetrator is under 18, they would be offered a mentor from the Promise project for a 6 month duration.
- Strike 4 - A further referall is recieved. The case is referred to the Anti-Social Behaviour Problem Solving Group where court action is considered.
What is Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC)?
An ABC is a voluntary agreement between the offender and the Partnership (represented by the Polce, a Housing Officer, YOT representative and the ASB Co-ordinator).
The perpetrator is requested to sign up to a number of conditions that relate to the referrals recieved regarding their behaviour. eg. i will not throw stones. The contract runs for a 6 month period and a breach may result in another meeting with the perpetrator, a visit, a letter or a referral to the ASB Problem Solving Group. The YOT also offer a voluntary Parenting Contract and a mentor as part of ''The Promise'' mentoring group.
Adults who are invited to sign ABC's can also be offered to support programmes to help with any problems they may have that contribute to their anti-social behaviour eg. alcohol or other substance misuse, anger management etc.
What is the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO)?
- It is an order imposed by the courts
- It sets down prohibitions, that can include exclusions form an area, prohibited contact with specified individuals and prohibition of certain actions, to prevent any further anti-social behaviour and protect the community or individual.
- It can run for up to 5 years (minimum length is 2 years)
- It protects the community from behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress.
Failujre to comply with the conditions of an ASBO is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine or imprisonment.
Anti-Social Behaviour Problem Solving Group?
Continued anti-social offences, following warnings or in the case of a more serious initial action, will result in offenders being asked to attend a meeting with members of the Partnership who form the Anti-Social Behaviour Problem Solving Group.
The group will reinforce that such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. It also provides further opportunity to identify the root cause of the offenders problems and offer the person additional support, if necessary, to stop the unacceptable behaviour.
Approval may be given by the group to proceed with an application for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order should other interventions have failed to stop the behaviour.
Are all cases of anti-social behaviour recorded?
All incidents of anti-social behaviour and personal will only be put onto the database once a letter has been sent, if a referral comes in and the behaviour is of a trivial nature then the details will not be entered. The information held by the Partnership will be held according to the Data Protection Act. Data sharing with Partner agencies is permitted by section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) if this is necessary to prevent a criminal offence.
Will I have to give evidence?
Professional witness statements can be taken to allow for identities of those too fearful to give evidence to be protected. Care will be taken to ensure that a professional witness does not inadvertently enable the vulnerable or intimidated witnesses to be identified, for example from their home address.
If I report an individual for anti-social behaviour, will they know I reported them?
All reports of incidents of anti-social behaviour will be held in the strictest of confidence. An officer of the Safer Blaenau Gwent Partnership will contact you discreetly to discuss the anti-social behaviour you are experiencing.
