New anti-social behaviour triggers 'unlikely to solve worst cases'

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

The Government plans to set up five pilot schemes this summer to road test "community triggers" in neighbourhoods to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

Under the plans, police will be forced to deal with anti-social behaviour if five households in one area complain about another resident.

Here, Brian Simpson, chief executive of Wirral Partnership Homes, discusses the proposals but warns they are unlikely to solve some of the worst cases of ASB.

"If nothing else, the launch of “community triggers” – where five complaints about antisocial behaviour (ASB) will automatically trigger a police investigation –draws attention to the inter-agency working that is on-going in the fight against ASB across the nation. 

However, the headline-grabbing proposal is unlikely to solve some of the worst cases of ASB where there are complex and not always clear cut solutions.

"The better housing providers are already working hard to respond to ASB quickly and effectively, working alongside the Police and a number of other partners as well as young people to tackle the problems head on and, equally importantly, to offer support to victims and those who report the incidents.  This involves not only addressing issues when they happen, but also preventing the behaviour in the first place by having dedicated teams who work with challenging families.

"Tackling ASB is not as simple as a numbers game, and an automatic trigger is not a realistic practical solution.  Reports of ASB should be assessed and dealt with in relation to the impact on the neighbourhood, household or individual making the complaint.  Some of the worst we have seen did not attract five complaints, with the most serious cases often reported by an individual when others in the neighbourhood are afraid of reprisals.

"Triggers may also raise the issue of vexatious complainants, who will badger others into reporting people they do not get on with.  It is very easy to cajole friends and family members to join in, even where there is no real problem.    The danger may be that more serious cases that have not “hit the triggers” are treated as a lesser priority than those that have, and at the very least take up precious time that could be better spent elsewhere.

"Tackling ASB is not something that should be tackled by police action alone – the issue is too complex and must be addressed by a range of local agencies.  The government needs to look more closely at the causes and impacts of the problem, and offer some flexibility so that housing providers and their local partners can continue to do their good work together in partnership."