ASB Help Featured on Panorama
ASB Help were featured on BBC Panorama on 24th January 2022 which sought to raise aware of the scale of ASB that is continuing to occur up and down the country and promote the ASB Case Review (ASB Case Review). If you missed it, please see the following link:
Panorama, Anti-Social Behaviour: Afraid In My Own Home: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0013w6h via @bbciplayer
Unfortunately, as there is no quantitative data held nationally on the use of all the tools and powers introduced by the ASB Crime and Policing Act 2014, we can only rely on the qualitative data we obtain from ASB victims who contact us and from practitioners in the field. So we are unable to establish how widely the tools and powers are being used.
It is clear to say, however, there is a lot of good practice out there and a lot of ASB is nipped in the bud early and addressed by non-legal tools such as mediation, restorative justice, warning letters, Acceptable Behaviour Contracts or Neighbourhood Agreements for example. However, there are cases that slip through the net and some victims continue to suffer from ASB for an unnecessary amount of time.
The ASB Case Review (also known as the ASB Case review) is an ASB victim's statutory right to request a review of their case where persistent ASB is reported and they believe there are further actions available to resolve the matter. The minimum threshold to raise the community trigger is 3 incidents in the proceeding 6 months before the trigger was activated all of which need to have been reported to the housing association (if relevant), local authority or police and have caused harassment, alarm or distress.
The process of the review encourages a problem-solving approach aimed at dealing with some of the most persistent, complex cases of anti-social behaviour and be able to look at the case in a holistic manner and take a joined up, problem-solving approach to find a solution for the victim.
Consideration should always be given on how victims can best express the impact that the ASB has had on their lives.
Agencies should always consider inviting the victim to attend a section of the case review meeting to help all members of the panel understand the level of harm and impact.
Panorama highlighted that 1 in 5 local authorities that responded to their Freedom of Information request (195 in total responded) had not completed any ASB Case Review review hearings. These statistics demonstrate that further work is still required to improve and promote the community trigger process and ensure it does not remain a postcode lottery.
Our aim at ASB Help is to raise awareness of this tool and ensure the victims' voice is heard and to work with practitioners to ensure best practice is followed by the agencies administering the process:
- We give advice on the community trigger process to victims
- We signpost the victim to their local CT process if they are not able to do so themselves or don’t know how to
- We work with practitioners to improve service delivery. As part of this we have introduced an ASB PLEDGE which is designed to encourage national consistency in the administration of the community trigger, assist practitioners in working to models of best practice as well as fulfil parliament’s intention to provide victims with a safety net to reduce the harm of ASB
We are calling out to all authorities involved in the ASB Case Review process (whether you are a housing association, local authority or police) to get in touch and sign up to our pledge, to demonstrate your commitment to placing the victim at the heart of tackling ASB and move towards setting national good practice and standards in relation to the ASB Case Review.
Derbyshire launch an ASB Hub
Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Police have today launched the Derbyshire ASB Hub to coincide with ASB Awareness Week (19th-25th July).
This online resource is accessed via a link – Derbyshire ASB Hub.
The ASB hub is now permanently available, and will be invaluable in providing information on how anti social behaviour is addressed, how to report it, and what support is available to you.
You can find information on the different partner agencies within Derbyshire who work together to tackle anti social behaviour within your communities, and useful links to their specific websites.
This is a fantastic tool for victims to access for advice and guidance as it is clear, accessible, and easy to navigate.
ASB Help is very proud of the work we have done with Safer Derbyshire, who are raising the bar in the Midlands in the way they approach and tackle anti social behaviour.
We are thrilled partners in Derbyshire have recently taken The ASB Help Pledge, and continue to put victims at the heart of what they do.
ASB Case Review Podcast Series
As part of ASB Awareness week, ASB Help are very excited to launch a podcast series in relation to the ASB Case Review. This three part series is now available to listen to using the links below: -
Episode one: Rebecca Bryant (Chief Exec at Resolve) and Andy Prophet(ACC for Essex Police and NPCC lead for Anti-Social Behaviour)
Episode two: Victims' Commissioner Dame Vera Baird
Episode three: Chief Inspector Mark McSweeney and ASB Coordinator Jess Thomas, Dyfed Powys Police
ASB Case Review Podcast Trailer
ASB Help are due to launch a mini podcast series next week in relation to the community trigger as part of ASB Awareness Week. In each episode, Rebecca Brown, our chief executive, talks to people at the sharp end of developing the blueprint for best practice in anti-social behaviour. The trailer is now live and can be accessed using the following platforms using the following links:-
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/community-trigger-101/id1575143822
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7mbuedjWLWoW6y0FzlI8MU
Acast - https://aca.st/a1f8a7
Google podcast https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NvbW11bml0eS10cmlnZ2VyLTEwMQ
ASB Case Review workshop with Merseyside PCC - 23/06/21
Helping victims of ASB to get the right response
More than 30 community safety organisations will receive training today to ensure victims of anti-social behaviour get the right response, thanks to the region’s Police Commissioner.
Emily Spurrell has united with charity ASB Help to run the online workshop today (Wednesday 23rd June) which aims to increase awareness and understanding of the ‘ASB Case Review’.
The ASB Case Review, also known as the ASB Case Review, was introduced in 2014. It is a legal tool which gives victims of persistent anti-social behaviour the right to demand that local agencies review their response.
A member of the public can request a ASB Case Review from their local council if they have reported three incidents of anti-social behaviour in the preceding six months, and they feel further action is needed to resolve their case. Anyone can activate the community trigger, including practitioners, with the consent of the victim.
Once a ASB Case Review is activated, the local council must notify the other organisations involved, including the police, local health teams and registered providers of social housing, and hold a multi-agency case review, which sees all the various agencies come together to identify actions that can be taken to resolve the case.
If a victim is not happy with the response, they can appeal to the Police Commissioner who will examine the case review and may ask the agencies to conduct a further review of their case.
Today’s virtual training will be led by ASB Help’s Chief Executive Rebecca Brown, and is due to be attended by 33 representatives from partner organisations, including each of the region’s five Local Authority community safety partnerships, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue and a host of housing associations and community organisations.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “The ASB Case Review was brought in seven years ago to give victims of persistent ASB who feel nothing is being done and no-one is listening, the chance to get answers.
“Yet sadly, this important legal tool is still little known and little understood. I wanted to change that here in Merseyside, so that all the agencies involved in the process know how it should be used and feel confident promoting it to victims in their area.
“Anti-social behaviour is often, wrongly, viewed as ‘low-level’, but for victims who are repeatedly and persistently targeted it can have a hugely damaging effect, leaving people too scared to leave their front door and even afraid while they are inside their own home. It causes fear, stress, anxiety, depression. People who are subjected to this type of treatment deserve to get help and, if it isn’t forthcoming, they deserve to know why.
“I hope by running this training event today, more people will be able to come forward and get answers promptly and proactively. Crucially, I hope it will give more victims the confidence to come forward if they are suffering.”
ASB Helps’ Rebecca Brown said: “The community trigger is an essential mechanism for both victims and practitioners. It enables victims to use their voice and explain clearly the harm being caused to them and give their opinion on what a resolution would look like. For practitioners, it gives them back some control to raise the profile of a case and collaborate with community stakeholders to create an action plan to resolve it.”
Organisations were also invited to take ‘The ASB pledge’ – a six-point commitment which asks agencies to promote awareness of the ASB Case Review, ensure their process is accessible and inclusive and puts the victim first
Local Government Association have launched a new series of case studies on tackling anti-social behaviour
https://asbhelp.co.uk/practitioners-hub/asb-case-review-practitioners/
Victims' Survey 2021
If you have been a victim of or reported a crime in the past three years, The Victims' Commissioner want to hear from you. The Victims’ Commissioner will use your valuable feedback to help ensure future victims receive the support and justice outcomes they need.
Results of the survey will feed into a report charting the victim experience of the criminal justice system and victims’ services in 2020.
More information on the survey and the link to the survey itself can be found here:
https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/policies/victims-survey-2021/
"Murdered by a mob" - the tragic story of Bijan Ebrahimi
https://www.channel5.com/show/murdered-by-a-mob/
Every ASB practitioner should watch this documentary urgently. ASB Help are gravely concerned to report that we are working with current vulnerable victims who are suffering similar racially aggravated anti-social behaviour to what Mr Ebrahimi did. These victims are being failed by the agencies who should be protecting them. We hope these agencies will consider the lessons this documentary offers, reflect on their conduct and take urgent steps to protect victims before another avoidable death occurs.
Read the multi-agency learning review following the murder of Bijan Ebrahimi here:
Multi-agency learning review following the murder of Bijan Ebrahimi
Dyfed-Powys Police have taken the ASB Pledge
Dyfed-Powys Police have taken the ASB Pledge.
We are delighted to work with Dyfed-Powys Police, who have taken the ASB Pledge, which commits officers and staff to giving victims of antisocial behaviour a voice. It is essential we put victims first.
Dyfed-Powys Police was awarded the ASB Help Pledge after creating a clear process which enables the force and partners to play an active role in resolving entrenched antisocial behaviour.
The pledge helps organisations to create effective policies that make it easier for victims to invoke the ASB Case Review (also known as an ASB case review).
We hope more agencies take the ASB Pledge, so we can ensure victims are put first and Anti-Social Behaviour is resolved as quickly as possible.
Read more about how you can take the ASB Pledge here: https://asbhelp.co.uk/practitioners-hub/the-asb-pledge/
Read more on the ASB Case Review here: https://asbhelp.co.uk/practitioners-hub/asb-case-review-practitioners/
Read the full story here: https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/19203853.dyfed-powys-police-awarded-commitment-victims-antisocial-behaviour/?ref=twtrec
Updated Victim's Code
New rights for victims of crime introduced
On Thursday 1st April 2021, an updated Victims’ Code came into effect, introducing 12 rights for victims of crime and setting out the services and standards that must be provided to victims by the police and other criminal justice agencies.
The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, more commonly known as the Victims’ Code, is published by the Ministry of Justice and it’s applicable from the moment a crime is reported to the end of a trial in court.
Merseyside Police has welcomed the changes to the Victims’ Code and the force has made it clear that it is committed to ensuring victims of crime are fully supported and kept informed at all stages of a case.
The force has introduced contact cards and information leaflets which will be given to victims when a police officer first attends the report of a crime. The new cards allow officers to provide a reference number and a clear point of contact for enquiries about the case.
The new leaflet contains a lot of useful information. This includes an overview of the next steps following the crime being reported, plus information about the victim’s rights, compensation, the Right to Review scheme, the role of the Witness Care Unit and how support services can be accessed via Victim Care Merseyside.
Victim Care Merseyside is a dedicated support resource for victims of crime, commissioned by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner. The website has a comprehensive directory of services available to victims throughout Merseyside. Victims can easily find specialist support in their local area that can help them cope and recover from the aftereffects of a crime.
Remember, if you report a crime, the police will discuss what support you may require. Be open and honest – the sooner they understand your needs as both a victim and potential witness, the sooner they can put the right support in place or refer you to an organisation that can assist.
You can find more details about your rights under the Victims’ Code and read the full Victims’ Code document, published by the Ministry of Justice by visiting: www.gov.uk or https://www.victimcaremerseyside.org/my-rights/the-victims-code