"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 Community Trigger (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 Community Trigger 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
Victims Law Policy Paper
The victims' commissioner for England and Wales has called for a law to ensure people affected by crime are treated properly as they wait for justice. The paper, published today (24th February 2021) sets out her ambitions for long-awaited Victims’ Law, and calls for criminal justice agencies to be more accountable and for victims to be accorded “participants’ rights".
The full paper, published today (24th February 2021) can be found below:
ASB statutory guidance update
The government has published strengthened guidance for local agencies around anti-social behaviour to ensure that victims have their voices heard.
Changes to the guidance:
- Updated references to legislation and to reflect the new Sentencing Code
- Further clarity on the process of the Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review/Community Trigger to make sure there is a greater focus on the impact of anti-social behaviour on victims; including that relevant bodies should always consider inviting the victim or, if more appropriate, a representative to a section of the case review meeting and highlighting that local areas can have independent chairs for the review meetings
- Emphasising the requirements for local agencies to publish details of the Community Trigger procedure to ensure that victims are aware that they can apply and to annually publish specified data.
The link to the full statutory guidance can be found here:
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act: anti-social behaviour
In the media: Discussing noise complaints and neighbour disputes
ASB Help are featured in this weeks Scottish Sunday Express, discussing the significant increase in noise complaints, neighbour disputes and public nuisance calls. ASB Help reported an increase in complaints of 25%-300% across the board, with most of these related to noise.
Read the full article here - Scottish Sunday Express article
Our website also contains lots of information and advice regarding noise and neighbour disputes.
Nightingale Taskforces
ASB Help has opened a national conversation about ASB management and suggested the concept of Nightingale Taskforces.
More information can be found here: Nightingale Taskforces
The open letter to the UK Home Secretary can be found here: Open Letter
Be part of our ASB Pledge!
Thank you Solihull Community Housing for hosting me this week to talk to you about the PLEDGE. Very encouraging that we have so many partners wanting to take the PLEDGE and work with ASB Help on promoting the voice of victim’s of anti-social behaviour. Particular thanks to Victim Support in Plymouth, Hyde Housing, Sheffield City Council, Leicestershire Police, Stoke City Council and Surrey Police….Be part of this campaign and get in touch with ASB Help today to find out more about how we can help you to deliver the best service to your residents.
You can find out more information on the Pledge here
Will you take the pledge?
The ASB Pledge
Following a successful pilot, The ASB Help PLEDGE is now available for all organisations.
ASB Help is committed to giving victims of anti-social behaviour a voice. We identified that by working directly with authorities responsible for managing the Community Trigger, and their partner agencies, we could advise them on best practice and help them to shape their policies and procedures to ensure victims of anti-social behaviour can easily invoke their statutory right to a review of their case. And crucially, that once activated, the Community Trigger brings about purposeful action to bring an end to the anti-social behaviour.
We know that some organisations don’t embrace the Community Trigger. This may be because they feel the process will reflect badly on their organisation or they have not been shown the opportunities the process can bring to the victim and agencies in the area to work collaboratively and resolve serious cases of anti-social behaviour once and for all.
ASB Help established the ASB Help PLEDGE to challenge faulty ideas around the Community Trigger and help organisations to create robust and inclusive policies that will make it easier for victims to invoke the Community Trigger and enable all stakeholders in the community to play an active role in resolving entrenched anti-social behaviour.
Embracing the Community Trigger process is everyone’s opportunity to take back control of anti-social behaviour in their community and make it a better place to live.
In the last six months, ASB Help has been working with a Local Authority on a pilot of the ASB Help PLEDGE. Using ASB Help’s self-assessment tool, every component of their existing policy and standard practices were scrutinised and tested for being victim focused and conducive to resolving anti-social behaviour. Having an honest conversation about their current practice led to an appreciation that change was required. In just under 6 months, the Authority has fundamentally reshaped how they manage the Community Trigger. Changes have included internal staff training, creating a directory of contacts in partner agencies, identifying potential Community Trigger Chairs for review meetings and raising awareness in the community about the Community Trigger and how it can be invoked to ensure the most vulnerable victims know they have the right to request it. ASB Help has provided the Authority with template documents which deal with issues such as information sharing, how Community Trigger meetings should be managed, the suite of interventions available for managing cases of anti-social behaviour and guidance on how to ensure the victim is supported and represented throughout the process.
Following this successful pilot, we invite all Authorities with responsibility for the Community Trigger, as well as partner agencies managing anti-social behaviour, to sign up to the ASB Help PLEDGE.
Show your commitment to victims today and see more about what you are pledging to do and how it will help your organisation be ahead of the curve in community safety.
You can view the Pledge here, and the Pledge FAQ's here
Ministry of Justice consultation
The Ministry of Justice has launched a consultation into the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/proposed-changes-to-the-victims-code/
The MoJ says:
The Victims' Code sets out the rights that victims of crime in England & Wales should receive. Under the code, all victims of crime – whether they choose to report it or not – are entitled to a range of support and information. To ensure the Code better meets victims’ needs, the MoJ is consulting on proposals which will give victims a louder voice in the process, ensure that they are better heard through their journey in the criminal justice system, and make sure they can access the support they need.
Victims of Anti-Social Behaviour
What about victims of anti-social behaviour? They do not even fall in the scope of the review. The Ministry of Justice works from the basis of it being only for victims of crime.
We would argue that being a victim of repeat, persistent anti-social behaviour can actually cause more distress and require more support than being a victim of some crimes. It is also a case that we all cope differently with both ASB and crime. As such the focus should be on the needs and vulnerabilities of the victim, not whether the behaviour they have been subjected to has crossed into the definition of crime.
At the very least, we would suggest that victims of anti-social behaviour who have requested an ASB multi-case review under the Community Trigger, should be entitled to rights and support under the Victims' Code.
We think it is unfair that funding to give victims practical and emotional support is ringfenced only for victims of crime. Let's not forget that a victim of anti-social behaviour coming forward to receive emotional support may in fact lead to uncovering hidden crime from the ASB perpetrators. Timely support for victims of anti-social behaviour and an encouragement of early intervention techniques can also prevent crime from developing in the first place.
Get Involved in the Ministry of Justice consultation
We have made our voice heard in this Ministry of Justice consultation. We invite you to also. https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/proposed-changes-to-the-victims-code/ Deadline for contributions is 11 September 2019.
