We believe that taking action against perpetrators of ASB sends a clear message to other tenants and leaseholders that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
We adopt a multi-agency approach to tackling ASB by encouraging and sharing mutual expertise, good practice, information and resources. We often work in partnership with other agencies and partners, such as the police, the Community Safety Partnership team, Probation Service, Fire Service, Housing Associations, Youth Offending Services, Social Services, and other services to share information and tackle ASB in a coordinated and effective way. Some partners may have tools or powers that the Council does not.
Legal measures will always be taken as a last resort since it is recognised that the court will want to be satisfied that all other methods to tackle ASB have been seriously explored or have been tried and failed.
Legal remedies may include:
- Pursuing a civil injunction, which may be issued against individuals aged 10 or older (and may include a power of arrest), to prohibit or prevent antisocial conduct. This enables us to de-escalate situations before they worsen and can be employed concurrently with applications for possession of property
- Accepting a legal undertaking, which is a formal promise to the court and holds the same weight as an injunction but does not confer a power of arrest. We may consider accepting undertakings from ASB perpetrators as an alternative to seeking an injunction based on legal advice and where it is considered appropriate
- Issuing a Community Protection Notice (CPN) to halt behaviour by individuals aged 16 or over that negatively impacts community quality of life. This typically requires ceasing specific actions or taking reasonable steps to prevent further antisocial conduct. Violation of a CPN constitutes a criminal offence and may result in a fine
- Coordinating a Public Space Protection Order aimed to improve the quality of life for residents by restricting or prohibiting certain activities that negatively impact the community. PSPOs are enacted under the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014
- Coordinating a Premises Closure Order in collaboration with the police and community safety partners, where justified. If Council properties are being used, or are likely to be used for, nuisance or disorder, access may be restricted for durations ranging from 48 hours to six months
- Requesting a Criminal Behaviour Order via the Crown Prosecution Service, which may be imposed on individuals aged 10 or over upon conviction of a criminal offence, targeting those who repeatedly engage in criminal ASB
- Initiating possession proceedings through the court when early intervention is ineffective in resolving ASB and alternative measures are unsuitable. The Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 established an absolute ground for possession for secure or fixed-term secure tenancies where ASB or criminality has been substantiated by another court. This approach is generally reserved as a measure of last resort in instances of severe or persistent ASB, when support has been declined or behaviour remains unchanged