How we manage anti-social behaviour reports

As a general rule we will visit you within:

• 24 hours for serious anti-social behaviour, like harassment or where there is a threat of violence
• 5 days for other less serious types of anti-social behaviour.

The investigation

During the interview we will record the full details of your complaint. We will then investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Normally this means interviewing the person responsible for the anti-social behaviour and possibly speaking to other witnesses. During the investigation we will follow confidentiality guidelines.

Once we have completed the investigation we'll meet with you again within two weeks, to discuss what action can be taken to prevent the anti-social behaviour happening again.

Preventing a repeat of the anti social behaviour

We will try to help you resolve the problem mutually as this is usually the quickest and most permanent way of resolving initial complaints.

To help you do this we can put you in touch with independent mediators who are skilled in helping and supporting neighbours to reach a solution that is acceptable to both parties.

If the anti-social behaviour continues, or if the behaviour is threatening from the start, you will be given a named contact at Notting Hill Housing who will work with you to form an action plan for resolving the problem. They will explain the various solutions available to deal with the anti-social behaviour and agree with you which could be used in your case.

They may ask you to collect more evidence of incidents or to keep a diary sheet.

Monitoring progress

Your named contact will keep in touch with you, carrying out and monitoring the action you agreed. Each month they will write to you with a progress update. They will also arrange for support to be provided to you where necessary. If the initial solution doesn't work, your contact will continue to work with you, reviewing and revising the action plan as needed.

Enforcement action

Whilst we hope in most cases preventative action will be effective in stopping the anti-social behaviour, we can and will use enforcement action when required. This does, however, depend upon us gathering sufficient evidence to support our case in court.

We rely on complainants and other witnesses working with us to do this and you may be asked to appear as witnesses in court hearings.

If at any stage we are unable to take further action, for instance where there is insufficient evidence, we will close the case and write to you explaining our reasons.

Preventing anti-social behaviour

There are a number of solutions that we can use to prevent anti-social behaviour continuing. These include:

• mediation
• informal warnings
• referring the problem to enforcement agencies like the police or the local authority's Environmental Health department
• working in partnership with other agencies such as Social Services or Youth Services who have additional skills and powers
• supporting vulnerable perpetrators to help them control their behaviour, for example where the anti-social behaviour is due to mental health problems
• physical improvements, such as better lighting in communal areas
• community development projects, such as sports activities for young people
• acceptable behaviour contracts
• demoted tenancies.

We are able to support, or refer to other appropriate support agencies, customers whose vulnerability affects their behaviour and could result in anti-social behaviour. Examples include people with mental health or physical disabilities, or those with drug or alcohol problems.

Legal enforcement

If our preventative solutions do not lead to any improvement, we are prepared to use legal enforcement measures such as:

• injunctions
• anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs)
• possession orders.

If we are considering legal measurements we will explain each of these to you. You can also find more details in our anti-social behaviour leaflet:

Support we can offer you and other witnesses

We encourage you to work with us in tackling anti-social behaviour and will protect you and other witnesses in this process. This could include arranging counselling or additional security measures and supporting you and other witnesses during court hearings.

Recording and monitoring anti-social behaviour

Notting Hill Housing keeps a record of the type, location and action taken on reported incidents of anti-social behaviour.

More information

For more information about anti-social behaviour or if you would like help and advice on what you can do to prevent or stop anti-social behaviour, contact our Customer Services team on 020 8357 4501 or homeoptionsrepairs@nhhg.org.uk.