Four key themes to round up Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week

Four key themes to round up Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week.

Clarke Willmott recently hosted a free webinar for housing professionals to mark Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week.

The interactive “Making Communities Safer” online event was aimed at people in working in social housing, including housing officers, neighbourhood teams, and tenancy enforcement personnel.

A recent YouGov study commissioned by Resolve reveals that anti-social behaviour remains a persistent and growing problem, underscoring the urgent need for renewed efforts to improve how it is tackled.

The YouGov data shows that 43 per cent of people have seen a rise in anti-social behaviour in their local area over the past three years, with 16 per cent reporting a significant increase. Around 11 per cent experience ASB on a weekly basis, while 2.5 per cent – equivalent to 1.7 million UK adults – face it daily.

Despite the scale of the problem, just 25 per cent report ASB to police – and over half (57 per cent) don’t report it to any authority at all.

Here, we summarise the key points covered in the webinar, which was led by Emily Hope, Alex Loxton and Matthew Bown, all senior associates in Clarke Willmott’s housing management team.

The webinar explored four key themes aligned with the #MakeCommunitiesSafer campaign, led by Resolve, the UK’s leading organisation dedicated to tackling ABS and enhancing community safety:

1. Ways to ensure victims of ASB receive full support, including practical use of the legal toolkit available to Registered Providers.
2. Addressing long court delays in some jurisdictions and exploring strategies to minimise these where possible.
3. Examining Resolve’s proposed national Information Sharing Agreement and its potential impact on Registered Providers.
4. Enhancing collaboration with victims to make reporting ASB quicker, easier, and more accessible.

Key issues discussed within each theme were:

Victims receiving support

• The importance of supporting ASB victims: There is a need for clear reporting procedures, strong response protocols, and collaboration frameworks. A victim-centred approach is key, and in practical terms that means multiple reporting options, risk assessments, and regular check-ins. The role of social landlords in supporting ASB victims is crucial. Lack of support can lead to victims losing confidence in legal processes and housing providers, ultimately ceasing to report incidents.
• Collaboration frameworks: Collaboration frameworks and partnership working should be prioritised, ensuring that staff are trained to spot when referrals to support services might be necessary. Practical adjustments, such as soundproofing or installing higher fences, can significantly improve victims’ well-being.
• Regular check-Ins: Regular check-ins with victims can provide reassurance and allow for reassessing risks, especially after each milestone in the legal process. Keeping cases open and maintaining clear communication can build trust and prevent victims from feeling in the dark.
• There is an increased possibility of complaints from victims due to perceived lack of action and a growing involvement of the Ombudsman in ASB cases. Expectations should be managed and clear communications with victims maintained.
• Risk assessments: Conducting risk assessments from the first point of contact and updating them as situations develop is key. Practical steps like installing extra lighting, offering safe rehousing, and working with safeguarding teams or the police can all be implemented to prioritise victim safety.

Impact of delays in the Justice System:

• Frustration for all: The issue of delays in the justice system is ongoing as is the frustration faced by ASB practitioners. The impact on victims is not insignificant and the difficulty in taking robust enforcement action is being felt.
• Six months average processing time: Recent statistics from the Court service note a slight decrease in the number of claims issued but an increase in possession orders and evictions. The average time between issuing proceedings and repossession is about 26 weeks but there is variability in processing times in different county courts.
• Delays = wider issues: Delays in the justice system leave vulnerable victims facing ongoing ASB, leading to frustration and potential withdrawal of support from key witnesses. This can severely impact the ability to take effective enforcement action. Due to delays additional enforcement actions, such as issuing further injunctions, might be necessary while waiting for possession proceedings to conclude. This can lead to increased costs and valuable staff time being consumed.
• Specialist housing court: The proposal for a specialist housing court could see potential benefits such as specialist judiciary, easier access to online services, and reduced delays but there is a challenge with funding and a need for a clear strategy.  A specialist housing court would have judges with specific knowledge of housing law, leading to more informed and efficient handling of cases. This could improve the quality of decisions and reduce delays caused by judges unfamiliar with housing issues.
• Practical tips to minimise delays: There are some practical tips to minimise delays, including using without notice injunction applications, bridging time for service, transferring enforcement to the High Court, joining local court user groups, and making formal complaints to the court service.

Information Sharing Agreement

• Unified approach: Having a single, national information sharing agreement would improve access to information from support agencies. There are many benefits to a unified approach and many challenges in interpreting and applying current data protection legislation.
• Reduced impact when siloed: Difficulties in gaining information from support agencies including mental health teams and the police, is common. Around 97% of members experienced issues with information sharing, impacting the strength of evidence in ASB cases.
• Standardisation: A single national information sharing agreement would standardise the approach across the country, making it easier and quicker to access relevant information. This would enhance partnership working and improve outcomes for victims and perpetrators.

Consumer standards and ASB reporting

• Consumer standards: These are important in ASB reporting, particularly the neighbourhood and community standard. Working cooperatively with tenants and other agencies to tackle ASB and hate incidents is crucial.
• Reporting: Clear reporting procedures ensure victims feel acknowledged and believed from the first point of contact. Multiple reporting options, such as online, email, and noise apps, are recommended to accommodate different preferences.

Clarke Willmott works closely with housing providers across the country and its housing management team is well-versed in the issues and pressures the sector faces. The team supports housing professionals and advises on the best legal tools to help victims and manage ASB, while exploring how the sector can improve outcomes for communities.

Clarke Willmott’s Housing Week will take place in November, where expert lawyers from the firm’s leading social housing team and guest speakers provide insight into the hot topics in the industry.

The full webinar can be viewed here.

For more information on Clarke Willmott’s social housing services visit our social housing page.