Community Trigger’s to help deal with persistent anti-social behaviour

Can you imagine what it’s like having to put up with unreasonable and often antagonistic behaviour from a neighbour for eight years? Yes, eight years. That was the scenario for our first ‘Community Trigger’ organised by my new coordinator, paid for from our Safer Streets money.

A Community Trigger, also known as the anti-social behaviour (ASB) case review, gives victims of persistent ASB – reported to any of the main responsible agencies, such as the council, police, housing provider – the right to request a multi-agency case review where there has been at least three formal complaints in a six month period.

This particular case involved two separate families, both subjected to ASB for over eight years, by the same person.

The alleged perpetrator was a drug dependant neighbour, who was sadly living a chaotic life. You can imagine the issues linked to this lifestyle, which the neighbours and their children were subjected to on a regular basis. But, after reporting a number of incidents to housing, police and the council, the applicants felt unheard, so they applied for a case review – ‘the Community Trigger’.

They explained how fearful, frustrated and exhausted they were feeling, due to the ongoing ASB and the relentless lack of sleep. How they couldn’t invite friends or relatives to visit their home. Over time, it affected their children too who became anxious in their own home and were struggling to concentrate at school.

So the Community Trigger panel was set, comprising representatives from Police, Housing, Solace, District Council, ASB leads, victim support and environmental health.

The purpose of the panel is to do everything we can as a collective, working with the victims, to improve their lives and, hopefully, resolve their situation.

The meeting began with the families describing, powerfully and honestly, how the ASB had impacted their lives. They explained how they felt they had ‘two fights on their hands’ – one with the neighbour and one with the professionals whose help they had sought.

Finding a resolution for both families was now the priority and when the recommendations were shared with them, they were received with obvious relief that something was at last being done. We are now all working together, to complete the recommendations made, which involved use of legislative powers alongside support.

I hope the victims will feel the difference soon and we will certainly ensure the recommendations are implemented.