Anti Social Behaviour Minimum Standards

The Safer North West Partnership has a plan which focuses on 8 key priorities to make North West Leicestershire a safer place to live and work. Preventing and tackling anti social behaviour is one of those priorities.

In response to the Home Office directive the Partnership has agreed a set of standards which we have published to demonstrate our commitment to you and set out what you can expect from your Council, Police and other partner organisations who are jointly responsible for dealing with anti social behaviour in your community. Whilst delivering against these standards the Partnership will seek to promote a culture that challenges anti social behaviour.

For help and advice in relation to anti-social behaviour please contact North West Leicestershire District Council on 01530 454831 or the Police on 0116 222 2222.

We will:

Standard 1

• Provide regular updates to your community on what is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood

The Safer North West Partnership recognises that it is essential to share progress with residents of North West Leicestershire through all appropriate means. It recognises the specific need to publicise enforcement action which is taken to address local issues.

The Partnership makes good use of local websites, including that of the District Council to publish progress updates in relation to the wider Community Safety Plan. Newsletters are issued on a regular basis by the local Police Commander for North West Leicestershire. The Police also provide regular updates and responses, regarding local priorities in relation to anti social behaviour. Further details can be found on Leicestershire Constabulary’s website. Members of the public are able to discuss any issues or concerns at beat surgeries which the Police hold across the District.

Standard 2

• Take your reports of anti-social behaviour seriously

The Safer North West Partnership will prioritise the response to complaints of anti social behaviour based upon an assessment of risk, taking into account repeat incidents and vulnerability. The Partnership will respond to those complaints assessed as a high priority within 1 working day and keep you informed of progress on a regular basis. In addition the Partnership will provide you with a named contact to ensure you have consistency throughout the investigation process.

An established process ensures that complaints of anti social behaviour are recorded and managed effectively.

Standard 3

• Work with victims of anti-social behaviour to identify and provide the support they need

The Safer North West Partnership is committed to supporting victims of anti social behaviour. We will ensure that, where appropriate, access to support services is offered and available. Victims of anti social behaviour will be kept up to date on the progress of their case to ensure they know what is happening.

A recent review of procedures has highlighted the need for the identification of vulnerability to instigate a prescribed response. The Partnership is currently working to address this need to ensure all agencies adopt a standard approach.

Standard 4

• Maintain strong links between the local authority, neighbourhood policing teams and other local partners to ensure that anti-social behaviour is dealt with effectively

The Partnership recognises that tackling anti social behaviour requires a multi agency approach. The Safer North West Partnership consists of representatives from the Police, Council, Fire Service, Youth Service and Youth Offending Team. Partners are committed to gathering and sharing data to target resources to prevent and stop anti social behaviour. The Partnership has access to data collated by the Inter Agency Community Safety Bureau (ICSB) which provides accurate details of hotspots. This data is shared and discussed at multi agency meetings including the Joint Action Group (JAG).

Standard 5

• Publish the specific policy standards that you can expect from those responsible for environmental issues

Fair and effective enforcement is essential to protect the economic interests and health and safety of the public, businesses, and to protect the environment. A decision about enforcement action, and in particular the decision to prosecute, has serious implications for all involved. Officers will endeavour to ensure that decisions about enforcement action are fair, proportionate and consistent, that current Government guidance and codes of practice are applied and everyone understands the principles that are applied when enforcement action is considered.

Standard 6

• Celebrate positive actions of young people

The Partnership will continue to support the “Respect Challenge”. This initiative provides opportunities and funding for young people to carry out Community Safety projects within their community. The Challenge celebrates the work of those young people who have participated during an annual award ceremony.

Young people from Castle Donington participated in the Challenge and subsequently went on to be awarded with the “Diana Certificate of Excellence Award”. In addition one young person won Leicestershire’s “Lord Lieutenants Award” and Moira Infant School has recently been recognised by OFSTED for its involvement in the Respect Challenge.

Standard 7

• Send out clear messages about tackling and not tolerating anti social behaviour

The Partnership is committed to consistently following an agreed approach to tackle those individuals persistently behaving in an anti social manner. The Partnership will take enforcement action that is appropriate and proportionate to complaints and is centred on providing relief for victims of anti social behaviour.

Standard 8

• We want to do our best for you but if we fail to meet our standards we will always explain why it has not been possible on that occasion to deliver the high standards to which we aspire and you deserve

If you feel agencies have not taken effective action to resolve anti-social behaviour in your community and the matter cannot be resolved through their normal complaints procedure victims have a right of complaint to the Safer North West Partnership through their councillors (elected members).