Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress. However, in some cases, activities may be classed as ASB if they cause nuisance and annoyance only.

We will not tolerate Anti-Social Behaviour and, in partnership with other agencies, we will investigate all forms of ASB.

You should only report ASB to us at NPH if you are reporting about an NPH-managed property.

Is this Anti-Social Behaviour?

Sometimes you may have issues with your neighbour that would not count as ASB.

Unsure if what you’re seeing is ASB? Check: is this anti-social behaviour?

Report Anti-Social Behaviour online

You can report ASB online by providing details of what happened and where it took place.

A member of our Tenancy Compliance Team will contact you back to gather more information.  Please leave a contact number or email address for us to contact you on.

Report ASB in person

You can report ASB at our One Stop Shop from Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm.

Guildhall One Stop Shop
St Giles Street
Northampton
NN1 1DE

Report ASB over the phone

You can report an incident outside our office hours by phoning NPH’s anti-social behaviour reporting line on 0300 330 7003.

If you wish to speak to someone to seek advice, report an incident or discuss a current incident that you have previously reported then you can also call from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

What happens next

When you report ASB to us it will be graded as Grade 1, 2 or 3 depending on who or what the incident is directed at.

We will offer to meet with you face-to-face at a place where you feel comfortable to discuss your issues and agree an action plan with you.

Grade Incident directed at Interview offered to you within
1 An individual 1 working day
2 The community 3 working days
3 The environment 5 working days

We will complete a risk assessment to support you which will include agreeing how often we will keep in contact with you and how contact will be made (face-to-face, telephone or email).

We will do everything we can to help resolve the issues that you are experiencing, but sometimes we are unable to take any further action. If this is the case we will explain this to you fully and offer advice. We will not close the case unless we have discussed it with you first.

The Tenancy Compliance Officer assigned to your case will speak to you and agree initial actions, as detailed in the attached action plan.

The actions following this will depend on the type of issue, frequency, evidence available, impact and risk to other residents.

We will try to resolve issues informally and only consider legal action as a last resort when the issue is so serious that legal action is necessary and proportionate.

Early/informal interventions may include:

  • warnings (verbal or written)
  • visits with partners e.g. the Police
  • Tenancy Sustainment Contracts
  • mediation referrals
  • practical deterrents such as CCTV
  • use of noise monitoring equipment
  • addressing support needs

Legal powers we may use include:

  • an injunction, which may include excluding someone from entering a specific location
  • working with partners for a closure order or a partial closure order on a property
  • tenancy enforcement including possession proceedings
  • working with partners to issue community protection notices

We will contact you as a minimum every 2 weeks or at a more regular frequency if requested and agreed with you. We will also provide you with a new action plan every 3 months.

Many issues of Anti-Social Behaviour are also a criminal matter and could result in the perpetrator being arrested.

If you witness a crime you need to report it to the police immediately, and you must also let them know if you are concerned about your safety. Once you have reported the incident(s) to the police, please contact us.

We will not disclose your details to an alleged perpetrator of anti-social behaviour or others involved, but they may make assumptions where a report has come from.

We may share your details with partner agencies such as the police or local authority to offer you support or assist in resolving the ASB issues.

NPH can help you feel safer in your home through arranging a security survey to be carried out by police staff. Following this, we will consider any recommendation made to ensure your home is safe and secure. This could include measures such as window locks, door/window alarms and letter box jammers.

We would only consider moving a victim of anti-social behaviour in extreme circumstances, where there is a risk of serious and imminent harm that cannot be managed by other measures or police intervention.

We would be led by the police in such circumstances and require written confirmation from them that a move is necessary. Alternatively, your housing officer is available to discuss other moving options such as a mutual exchange.

We appreciate you may be concerned about a problem starting again, but each case that is open on our system relates to that current incident or issue. We cannot keep a case open continuously if all actions have been completed or the problem has stopped. Even if a case is closed, the case can be reopened if the problem reoccurs.

Your Tenancy Compliance Officer will always contact you before your case is closed and discuss the reasons for its closure.

We would only consider eviction in the most serious of cases and if all other proportionate actions have been attempted first. NPH cannot evict a tenant without a court order, we provide the court with evidence, and they decide whether it is lawful and appropriate to evict someone.

The court will not evict a tenant unless we can evidence that all other proportionate options have been tried first.

We always strive to deliver an outstanding service but realise that there may be occasions when things go wrong. If you are not happy with the service you have received or how your case has been handled, you can let us know by making a complaint.

It gives us with an opportunity to put things right and helps us to review and improve our services. You can call the customer service team on 0300 330 7003.

If you have further questions, please contact the Tenancy Compliance Officer managing your case using their contact details found at the top of this letter.

Alternatively, you can call the Tenancy Compliance Team on 0300 330 7003 or email us at asb@nph.org.uk.

Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review

The Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review, previously known as the Community Trigger, is a mechanism designed to give victims of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) the right to a review of their case where the locally defined criteria are met. It is part of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Once the request is processed, agencies are required to come together to review how previous complaints of ASB have been dealt with and what further action (if any) is required.

Who can activate the case review

The case review can be activated by either the victim themselves or someone on their behalf – such as a carer, family member or councillor.

A victim can be an individual, business or community group.

Criteria for the case review

In order to start the case review process and subsequent case review, one of the following criteria must be met:

  • one person has reported 3 separate incidents relating to the same problem in the past 6 months to a relevant agency (police, council, housing provider) and feels no effective action has been taken to resolve the ASB
  • one person reported 1 hate incident or crime motivated by hate in the last 6 months, no effective action has been taken and it has been referred to West Northamptonshire Council Case Management meeting

If you would like to refer your case to the case management meeting, please email your details and details of the incident to asbcasereview@westnorthants.gov.uk.

The law sets out what will be considered a ‘qualifying complaint’ for using the case review. This is to prevent someone reporting historical incidents of anti-social behaviour in order to use the case review.

The legislation sets out the following standards:

  • the anti-social behaviour was reported within one month of the alleged behaviour taking place
  • a single incident which is reported to more than one agency only constitutes as one qualifying complaint

For the purpose of the case review, anti-social behaviour is said to be behaviour causing harassment, alarm and distress to a member or members of the public.

However, when deciding whether the criteria is met the local authorities nominated case review single point of contact will consider:

  • the cumulative effect of the incidents
  • the persistence of the ASB
  • the harm or potential harm caused to the victim

What happens if the criteria is met

A review will take place involving all relevant partners. The review will result in 3 outcomes:

  • no further action (which can be appealed)
  • further action identified and prepared into an action plan with appropriate and realistic timescales
  • no further action due to impending circumstances – for example awaiting court results

When it is not suitable to use the case review

The case review is not a complaints process, nor does it override an organisations ability to carry out actions they think are necessary. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of a case, contact the relevant organisations and ask for their complaints process.

Find out more about making a complaint to us.

How to activate the case review

You can start action through the case review using our online form:

Alternatively, you can call West Northants Community Safety Partnership on 0300 126 7000

If you would like the case review form posted to you please email asbcasereview@westnorthants.gov.uk.

Postal address:

Community Safety Partnership Manager
West Northants
One Angel Square
Northampton
NN1 1ED

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