Anti-Social Behaviour and Neighbourhood Management policy

The Regulator of Social Housing Regulatory Framework, specifically the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, requires registered housing providers:

• To co-operate with relevant partners to help improve social, environmental and economic wellbeing in areas where they own properties; and
• To work in partnership with other agencies to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhoods where they own homes.
• In tackling ASB we will ensure that we comply with all appropriate legislation and regulations.  We will make full use of all powers made available to us and work in partnership with other agencies to ensure the effective use of any powers available to them to ensure a swift and effective response to any incidents of ASB.

‘Anti-social behaviour’ is the broad term used to describe a range of nuisances, disorder and crime that affect people’s lives.  It covers many types of behaviour that vary in nature and severity, many of which are open to interpretation.

Issues that could constitute ASB are listed in Appendix B and within our ASB Toolkit on our website.

There is currently no single definition of ASB which is commonly used nationally.  However, the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which is the most recent legislation for ASB, introduced a series of different definitions for different purposes.  These definitions are:

• Conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person.
• Conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person’s occupation of residential premises; and
• Conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person.  (“housing-related” means directly or indirectly relating to the housing management functions).

‘Vulnerable Person’ – a vulnerable person is one whose experience and / or effect of harm as a result of the incident is likely to be more significant because of their individual personal circumstances and the conduct causes an adverse impact on their quality of life.  Adverse impact includes the risk of harm, deterioration of their health, mental and / or emotional wellbeing or an ability to carry out normal day to day routine activities due to fear and intimidation.

‘Repeat Victim’ of ASB – repeat victimisation occurs when the same person or address is subjected to a third incident of ASB within a rolling 12-month period.

‘Hate Crime Repeat Victimisation’ is where a person or immediate family member suffers more than one hate incident in a 12-month period following the date the first crime was reported.

Neighbourhood management’ cases are defined by Amplius as cases that do not meet the threshold of anti-social behaviour.  Please refer to Appendix C for a non-exhaustive list of these case types

Amplius will make it easy to report ASB and Neighbourhood Management issues and we have adopted a range of methods to ensure we are accessible to all customers.

We will:

• Respond to high-risk incidents of ASB within 1 working day for example arson and assault; and
• Respond to all other reports of ASB and Neighbourhood Management issues within 5 working days.

Case Management

We will provide complainants with a named Officer and/or case reference number.

As part of the initial assessment, we will establish if the report is ASB or Neighbourhood Management issue.  We will establish if the complainant(s) are a repeat victim and consider this in any response.  We will also review any potential vulnerability and the risk of harm to the complainant by completing a vulnerability matrix.  Further risk assessments will then be completed throughout the case in accordance with the ASB and Neighbourhood Management procedure.  We will also complete a vulnerability matrix for respondents where appropriate.

An initial action plan will be agreed with complainant(s), taking into account their specific needs, and further action plans will then be completed as and when appropriate until case closure.  Referral and signposting to support agencies will always be considered and completed where available and appropriate.  A referral to our Safeguarding Team may be made depending on the circumstances of the case and if there are any changes of circumstance throughout the duration that the case is open.

Multi-Agency Partnership Working

Amplius recognises that the responsibility for dealing with ASB and Neighbourhood Management is not the sole responsibility of one agency, although the role of Amplius could be critical.  Successful and effective management and prevention depends on the freedom to exchange information between different organisations and the willingness to tackle issues in partnership in line with GDPR guidelines.

We will participate appropriately in local area partnerships and protocols with a view to addressing issues at a local level.

Information Sharing and Confidentiality

Any information provided to us will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be used or shared for any other purpose without the consent of the person who has provided it.  However, there are certain circumstances where these principles might not apply, for example in cases of Safeguarding.

Amplius is committed to ensuring that no person or group of persons will be treated less favourably than another person or group of persons and will carry out our duty with positive regard for the following protected characteristics; Age, Disability, Race, Gender Reassignment, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Religion or Belief, Marriage and Civil Partnership and Pregnancy and Maternity.

Amplius recognises that, for various reasons, some of our customers and service users may be vulnerable. Policies therefore will take account of the recommendations made by the Housing Ombudsman and Regulatory recommendations on vulnerabilities. Amplius will take a proactive approach when making a decision relating to a customer or service user and where practicable, tailor and adapt our services to suit the needs of customers and support vulnerable people.

None.

• Risk Management Framework and Policy

Issues that could constitute ASB include (this is not an exhaustive list):

• Noise nuisance (Please refer to the Noise Procedure)
• Verbal abuse/ harassment/ intimidation/ threatening behaviour
• Hate related incident (based on race, sexual orientation, gender, disability, religion age, etc.)
• Vandalism/ graffiti/ other deliberate damage to property or vehicles
• Using or dealing drugs/ substance misuse
• Alcohol related.
• Domestic abuse
• Physical violence
• Misuse of communal areas
• Nuisance from vehicles
• Pets and animal nuisance
• Criminal behaviour

Issues that would not constitute ASB include (this list is not exhaustive):

• Noise transference between properties
• Noise caused by:
  • Babies crying
  • Children playing
  • People talking
  • DIY (at reasonable hours)
  • General living noises i.e., toilet flushing, walking on floor.
  • Vacuuming and Washing Machine (at reasonable hours)
• Garden condition.
• Property condition
• People congregating in communal/public spaces.
• Cats going into gardens.
• Children playing
• Parking issues including resident parking (not involving element of ASB)
• Littering or fly-tipping

Garden nuisance