Neighbourhood harmony
- Tackling anti-social behaviour

Anti-Social Behaviour damages lives and destroys communities.

At Whitefriars Housing Group Ltd we believe that everyone has the right to enjoy their home and to go about their lawful pursuits without interference, and that everyone has a corresponding duty to respect the rights of others and to not interfere with them. Where these rights are not respected, we aim to make it clear to everyone that swift and effective action will be taken against unacceptable behaviour.

Our approach to dealing with anti-social behaviour is based on the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group’s stepped approach, as detailed below. We are clear, however, that where enforcement action is required, that it will be taken promptly, and that it will be appropriate and proportionate to the particular circumstances. The most serious cases, such as those involving racial harassment or presenting a risk of harm will require formal intervention, such as obtaining an injunction, at the earliest possible stage.

Pursuing action to recover possession of a tenancy or forfeiture of a lease is regarded as a measure of last resort. Where such action is required, however, it will be taken promptly and the action expedited where the law permits it.

In more detail, our stepped approach to dealing with anti-social behaviour means that we will:

• Advise the complainant to try to resolve the problem themselves
• Use mediation if the problem is capable of resolution and the persons involved in the dispute are committed to finding a solution
• Develop a community or estate agreement (this is where the rules expected in a neighbourhood are informally agreed and set down by residents)
• Introduce a pre-tenancy agreement that sets down the expected standards of behaviour that new residents will sign before taking up occupation
• Use Acceptable Behaviour Contracts to tackle anti-social behaviour by young people
• Consider Parental Control Agreements where the anti-social behaviour is “committed” by someone under the age of 10 years
• Seek to resolve the issues of vulnerable people alleged to be acting anti-socially by working with partner agencies to identify and to cater for their support or care needs
• Use the full range of legal powers available to us and/or to partner agencies. Where such action is required, we will seek to restrain the behaviour by using injunctions or Anti-Social Behaviour Orders where relevant, reserving possession (eviction) action as a measure of ‘last resort’ – that is where other measures have failed or have been evaluated as inappropriate to deliver the required outcome.

asb4 - the specialist team

Reports of anti-social behaviour that are particularly complex require intensive attention or require specialist skills (such as mediation), or formal intervention (such as legal action) will be referred to Whitefriars’ asb4 team based at Torrington Avenue.

The asb4 team is made up of officers specialising in pursuing the full range of solutions to anti-social behaviour and includes trained mediators. The asb4 team also has access to specialist legal advisors and to specialist security and surveillance contractors where these are required.

• For more information on asb4, see our ‘Partners’ page on this site, or visit www.asb4.org.uk, alternatively, contact Eamon Lynch on 024 7676 7138.

Mediation

Mediation is a fast, effective and confidential service provided by specialist mediators within our asb4 team. Mediators work with individuals experiencing problems to enable them to communicate more effectively and to identify solutions that will work for them as individuals. Mediation is a wholly voluntary process and is particularly suited to circumstances where two or more people are involved in a dispute (eg over a noise problem) and are agreeable to finding an acceptable solution.
 

• For more information on our mediation services, contact the Mediation Team on 024 7649 6748, or see our ‘Policy and information leaflets’ page on this site.