Anti social behaviour may be decreasing but unless it stops, report it | Tenant news

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) has a negative impact on the places we live, but it can be resolved if issues are tackled as soon as they arise. 

In March this year, Essex police reported thatit has seen ASB incidents in the county fall by 64% since 2019, thanks to proactive work between community policing teams and local communities.

And did you know that the Government launched an action plan in March 2023 to tackle incidents of ASB?

The Anti Social Behaviour Action Plan will:

1. Make sure anti-social behaviour is treated with the urgency by increasing the use of ‘hotspot’ policing and rolling out a new immediate Justice service
2. Change laws and systems to take a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour, cracking down on illegal drugs organised and begging
3. Give people and other agencies the tools they need to discourage anti-social behaviour, including higher on-the-spot fines, investment in positive activities for young people, and regenerating local parks.

But what action can you take if you’re experiencing ASB where you live?

Address the issue

If a neighbour’s behaviour is causing you a problem try to speak to them if it’s safe to do that. If the problem doesn’t stop, contact your Neighbourhood Co-ordinator and explain what’s happening.

It’s a good idea to keep written notes of incidents and the action you’ve taken, including the dates and times. This evidence can help us to resolve the situation. Use this diary sheet to keep a record.

If the person causing the issue doesn’t live in your neighbourhood or you witness a crime, you should call the police. Call 999 to report an emergency or dial 101 for non-emergencies.

Reporting ASB to Habinteg

The easiest way to report a neighbour’s anti-social behaviour and hate crime incidents is by using our online ASB form. Please include your full name and address, and contact number, so that we can identify you from our records.

If you report an incident anonymously, we will take as much action as possible. However this action may be limited if we can’t contact the person who reported the incident to provide evidence for the report.

If you don't want to report a hate crime/incident to Habinteg or the police, you can report it to a third party, such as your local council or Citizens Advice Bureau. They can report the incident on your behalf and provide you with advice and support.

We'll always work with you if you're experiencing anti-social behaviour. To learn more about how we’ll help you, take a look at a copy of our ASB guide and Reasonable Behaviour policy at www.habinteg.org.uk/asb.