Anti-social behaviour and reviews

Anti-social behaviour case reviews

An anti-social behaviour case review (formerly community trigger) is designed to give victims of anti-social behaviour (ASB) the right to a review of their case when certain criteria is met. It is part of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Once the request is processed agencies are required to come together to review how previous complaints of ASB have been dealt with and what further action, if any, is required.

The review can be activated by either the victim themselves or someone on their behalf (e.g. such as a carer, family member or councillor). A victim can be an individual, business or community group.

Criteria

In order to start the process and case review, one of the following criteria must be met:

• one person has reported 3 separate incidents relating to the same problem in the past 6 months, to a relevant agency (police, council, housing provider) and feels no effective action has been taken to resolve the ASB
  or
• one person reported 1 hate incident or crime motivated by hate in the last 6 months and no effective action has been taken and it has been referred to a North Northamptonshire Council Case Management meeting.

The law sets out what will be considered a ‘qualifying complaint’. This is to prevent someone reporting historical incidents of anti-social behaviour. The law sets out the following standards:

• the anti-social behaviour was reported within one month of the alleged behaviour taking place
• a single incident which is reported to more than one agency only constitutes as one qualifying complaint

For the purpose of the review, anti-social behaviour is said to be behaviour causing harassment, alarm and distress to a member or members of the public. However, when deciding if the criteria is met, we will consider the cumulative effect of the incidents, including the persistence of the ASB and the harm or potential harm caused to the victim, rather than rigidly deciding whether each incident reached the level of harassment, alarm and distress.

Review

A review will take place involving all relevant partners. The review will result in 3 outcomes:

• no further action (which can be appealed)
• further action identified and prepared into an action plan with appropriate and realistic timescales
• no further action due to impending circumstances (e.g. awaiting court results)

Complaints

This is not a complaints process, nor does it override an organisation's ability to carry out actions they think are necessary. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of a case, contact the relevant organisations and ask for their complaints process.

This won't start a review of decisions previously made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). If a victim is not satisfied with a decision made by the CPS they should refer to the CPS complaints process and the Victims Right To Review Scheme.

Request

Complete our form to request a review.

Statistics

2020

• 1 request which met the threshold and went to panel
• Outcome recommendations

2023

• 4 requests
• 1 case review carried out resulting in recommendations.

Last updated 15 May 2023