The Response to Anti Social Behaviour Across the County

Combating anti-social behaviour (ASB) is high on the priority list of Central and Local Government. Funding and resources have increased considerably, as pressure is amplified to reduce the occurrence of ASB and the impact of it on our communities.

Of most significance is the new ASB Act 2003 [create link] that will offer a host of new powers and tools to agencies in their combined efforts to tackle ASB. Other new tools are the together action line, together academy and together website. These resources have been developed in an effort to improve the national response to ASB.

There has been an immeasurable multi-agency effort at a local level to combat ASB prior to the assent of the new Act or the introduction of these new resources. Therefore, any new powers or good practice guidelines will only build on the excellent work that has already been undertaken across County Durham.

Below is a small summary of how each district responds to complaints and what structures are in place to tackle ASB.

Chester-Le-Street

Through partnership working, ASB is tackled through Problem Solving meetings held every 4-6 weeks. Partners include Durham County Council, the District Council and the Police. Following a complaint(s), steps are taken to ensure that each case is recorded, considered and a decision made as to the best way to tackle the issue. At this point, other agencies or departments may be introduced to assist in doing this.

Practical examples of effective practice include:

• Dealing with ASB tenants of the District Council through tenancy enforcement
• Writing letters to both ASB tenants of private landlords and private landlords themselves
• Joint letters from the Police and the District Council sent to parents of young people involved in ASB three or more times.

City of Durham

ASB is tackled in the City of Durham through multi-agency working at a local level in Problem Solving Meetings held every 4-6 weeks. ASB cases are often dealt with promptly and effectively by individual agencies such as the Police but will be referred to the problem solving group should a multi-agency response be required. Proposed solutions often focus on interventions such as Restorative Justice rather than taking the legal route of ASB Orders (ASBOs) When appropriate solutions cannot be found to tackle the problem effectively, then an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) or an ASBO will only then be progressed.

Wear & Tees

ASB committed by individuals in Wear and Tees is tackled through an Anti Social Behaviour Order Panel comprising of representatives from the District Council, County Council, Police and Housing Associations in the area. Any agency can refer a case to the ASBO panel.

This panel will compile the evidence required to apply for an ASBO successfully and Durham Constabulary provide the personnel to oversee the legal process. In all cases, an ABC will firstly be sought with the Police and Housing Officers attending the perpretrators home to enable the ABC to be signed. Referalls are also made to education welfare and social services for support. These intervention often prove effective and require no need to move towards an ASBO application.

Sedgefield

ASB is tackled in Sedgefield by a multi-agency Anti Social Behaviour panel comprising of the County Council, Borough Council, Police and other agencies. The panel go through a process of interventions such as early warning letters, home visits then Acceptable Behaviour Contracts before finally issuing ASBO’s as a way of tackling ASB across the Borough. Good practice is seen as identifying offenders at an early stage and working together in partnership to improve behaviour before having to resort to legally-binding agreements.

District of Easington

In Easington, ASB is tackled through Streetsafe Boards in the form of locality-based problem solving groups. The Multi Agency Partnership takes an holistic approach to each problem, examining all the options open to each agency in terms of what action they can take. The District has an Anti social Behaviour Coordinator who leads on the React Team. This team will target hotspot anti social geographical areas and work with key professionals intensively to tackle the particular problems of the area.

Derwentside

Derwentside tackles Anti-Social Behaviour through problem solving groups and the ASB Task Group, a sub group of the overarching Partnership. Cases are progressed by the Police in consultation with other partners including the District and County Council.

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