How we tackle anti-social behaviour

When you have reported anti-social behaviour to us, a Housing Management Advisor from our Tenancy Services Team will arrange to meet with you as soon as possible to discuss the matter in further detail and outline how we can help.   We will draw up an Action Plan outlining what we will do, and what you should do to help us resolve the problem.  Our service standard tells you more.  

The Action Plan could include talking the problem through with the other person.  There is always a better chance of solving a dispute if you try to see each other’s point of view.  Sometimes a neighbour just needs reminding that their behaviour is upsetting.  If you are unsure about approaching your neighbour, we can set up a mediation meeting for you and your neighbour to talk through the problem together.  The Tenancy Services Team has fully trained accredited Mediators who can help find a solution you are both happy with.    

With your permission, we will make arrangements to speak with the perpetrator.   Our approach will be to try to get people acting anti-socially to change their behaviour. This can include making a referral to our Tenancy Support service to assist in helping people understand their responsibilities as a tenant of Ashfield District Council.  

If the case involves violence or threats of violence, damage or threats of damage to your property, or racial harassment, we will consider taking legal action such as a Without Notice Injunction against the person responsible straight away.

However, we cannot take action against someone just because someone else has complained about them.  We need to collect evidence.  The most important evidence is a ’Record of Anti-social Behaviour’ – a detailed diary of events which you may be asked to keep. 

	Anti-social behaviour policy
	Mediation services
	Anti-social behaviour service standard
	Tenancy Support Service

Young people

If the perpetrator is a young person, we may ask them to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Contract along with their parent or carer and a Police Officer, which lists certain acts the young person agrees not to take part in any more. 

If people refuse to change after a Warning, or after support has been provided to help them understand their responsibilities and to amend their problem behaviour, we will use the law to prevent them engaging in further nuisance, harassment, and anti-social behaviour. This can include:  

	Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
	Further information

Injunctions

Injunctions can stop a person coming to a property or into an area, or stop them behaving in a way which causes nuisance and annoyance to others.  An Injunction can also insist that a person does something such as tidy their garden or remove scrapped cars from their property.  Breach of an Injunction is contempt of Court and can lead to a large fine or imprisonment. 

Injunctions

Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs)

A legal Order to prevent the most serious types of anti-social behaviour such as repeated incidents of damage to property, and extreme forms of harassment or intimidation.  Anyone subject to an Anti-Social Behaviour Order who refuses to adhere to the conditions of the order can be arrested and eventually fined or imprisoned for up to five years. 

ASBOs

Eviction

Council tenants are responsible for their own behaviour and that of anyone living with them or visiting their home.  If there is evidence that they have behaved in a way which has caused annoyance, disturbance, or nuisance to others over a period of time, we can ask the Court for permission to evict them.  The Courts view taking someone’s home away from them and making families homeless as a very serious matter, and eviction is seen as a last resort.