Anti-Social Behaviour – The Family Approach

Prevention

Family undertakes a variety of activities that contribute to prevent anti-social behaviour at the outset.

This includes checks to previous tenancies before accepting as a Family tenant and then undertaking a robust sign up process ensuring that new tenants are aware of their responsibilities as set out in their tenancy agreement.

The Family tenancy agreement sets out clearly the responsibilities of being a Family tenant with clear statements regarding acceptable behaviours expected. It is made clear of the legal implications should these conditions not be met.

Family will also work alongside new tenants to determine and meet any support needs, often in partnership with other agencies. 

Working in partnership

Family adopt a multi-agency approach working closely with residents’ and agencies to tackle persistent and serious instances of anti-social behaviour. This includes participating fully and contributing towards a range of partnerships that operate in local communities to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour.

We participate in regular liaison meetings with partners and key agencies – sharing information of a common interest in accordance with law and good practice. This also includes working alongside agencies to develop locally based strategies to resolve issues of anti-social behaviour.

Encourage reporting and recording incidents

Family actively encourages customers to report instances of anti-social behaviour affecting them. We do not expect people to accept this behaviour and want them to feel comfortable in reporting cases to Family.

All information will be managed responsibly with the highest regard to the individual’s privacy.

Early Intervention

Family will seek to take action at the earliest opportunity to tackle instances of anti-social behaviour. There are specific target timescales for the acknowledgment of complaints and subsequent actions depending on the seriousness of the incident.

An initial assessment of the level of seriousness of the complaint will determine how the investigation of the compliant will be progressed. The status of the complaint will predetermine the target response times and can be reviewed at any stage as a result of changing circumstances or further incidents.

The key aims of this intervention are:

§         To enable the individual to recognise the consequences of their behaviour

§         To ensure that they change their behaviour

§         To protect victims, witnesses and the community

Enforcement

Family supports the use of non-legal and legal remedies to resolve incidents of anti-social behaviour however where appropriate we will endeavour to give customers the opportunity to modify their behaviour.

Family will always take a proportionate and culturally sensitive response to incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Examples of Non-Legal Remedies:

§         Mediation services provided directly by the landlord or in conjunction with another agency

§         Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)

§         Targeted Family Support

§         Family Intervention Projects

Examples of Legal Remedies:

§         Powers under the Environmental Protection Act (1990)

§         Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)

§         Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions (ASBI’s), including possible exclusion of a perpetrator from a property or an area

§         Undertakings

§         Possession action and eviction Parenting Orders

Supporting Victims

Family will ensure that victims of anti-social behaviour are provided with suitable levels of support.

We will particularly consider those with specific vulnerabilities such as mental health issues. 

They will be given a specific named person responsible for establishing an action plan and in keeping them updated on the progress of the plan. Family will also take all reasonable steps to support and protect complainants/witnesses.

Additional measures may be taken for serious cases, such as access to a mobile phones, 24 hour access to a dedicated officer (and/or Police)

Additional Support

Family recognises that there may be a need to support people being complained about. There may be under-lying reasons driving such behaviour and we are committed to working alongside families/agencies to provide the support / tools to alleviate these.

The Family ASB toolkit highlights some of the remedies available.

Safer Communities leaflet - Dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour and Neighbour Disputes