Anti-Social Behaviour
- Anti-social behaviour
- The Anti-Social Behaviour Action Team
- Why is it important to report anti-social behaviour
- Who to contact to report anti-social behaviour
- Noise nuisance
- Domestic violence
- Where can I live?
- Reporting Anti-Social Behaviour
- Dealing with anti-social behaviour (A guide to how we can help)
"Anti-social behaviour is a blight on our community and can dramatically damage the quality of life of Haringey residents which is why we take the issue so seriously. The creation of the ASBAT shows our commitment to tackling this problem and sends out a clear message to the destructive minority that their actions will not be tolerated. The council is working in partnership with the police and other agencies to make Haringey a safer place to live, work and study for all residents"
Cllr Nilgun Canver , Executive Member for Crime and Community Safety
|TopWhat is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) comes in many different forms. It includes nuisance and harassment in relation to:
- race
- vermin
- gender
- children and youth
- sexual orientation
- abandoned vehicles
- religious belief
- gardens - disputes, overgrown
- disability
- using property for commercial reasons
- dogs fouling, incessant barking
- offensive telephone calls
- drug abuse
- malicious letters and articles
- pets
- victims of mental health problems and/or other vulnerabilities
- noise
- vandalism
- refuse and rubbish
The government has introduced new legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour and the council uses all these powers to deal with reported cases and the misery it can bring to our residents.
Haringey's vision is to create a safer Haringey, where residents, visitors and workers will have an improved quality of life without the fear of being subject to anti-social behaviour.
To reach this level, we are working in partnership with all departments of the council and our external partner agencies such as the police. This is to better co-ordinate and support victims of anti-social behaviour, as well as prosecuting perpetrators in all cases where we have enough evidence to do so.
|TopThe Anti-Social Behaviour Action Team (ASBAT)
The ASBAT has been set up to deliver the Anti-Social Behaviour strategy.
The team deals with more serious, persistent or complex cases of ASB and those which may require some type of legal action. All other cases will be referred to other departments or agencies to deal with.
The ASBAT team consists of a group of dedicated ASB officers, a police officer and a lawyer.
The ASBAT has sucessfully prosecuted individuals who have been involved in ASB and in the more serious cases have used ASBO's and injunctions to protect residents. Some of these legal applications have banned perpetrators entering the borough for up to 5 years.
Our team also wants to stop ASB happening in the first place and are therefore involved in preventative work. They are currently working with:
- Local schools
- Community groups
- Resident associations
Why is it important to report Anti Social Behaviour?
Some residents may feel uneasy in reporting incidents of anti social behaviour to the council. They often fear that things may get worse if the perpetrator finds out that they have made a report.
The ASBAT understand these problems and will not take any action or speak to anyone else about the problem without agreeing this with you first. All reports made to the council are treated in the strictest confidence.
By tacking ASB, we aim to:
- improve your quality of life
- improve the environment in which you live
- improve the health of everyone who lives, works and studies in the borough
Reporting Anti Social Behaviour?
When a problem is reported the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Team aims to:
- Place the concerns of the victim at the centre of any investigation that is carried out
- Act quickly
- Follow an investigation/action plan
- Explain clearly all the informal and formal remedies available to both complainant and perpetrator
To make a report of Anti Social Behaviour
- Contact your Tenacy Mangement Officer if you are a Homes for Haringey Tenant
- Use the Anti Social Behaviour line - 0845 671 1177
- Private tenants/owner occupiers contact the Prevention and Options Team at Apex House on
Tel: 020 8489 4309 - If you are a housing association tenant you should contact your Housing Association.
- If you have any doubt about who to contact, please ring the council's main switchboard number on:
Tel: 020 8489 0000
Opening hours:
Monday - Friday 8.45am - 5pm
What happens to your report
- Your case will be logged and you will be given a unique case reference number
- The call is passed to the ASBAT for assessment
- The ASBAT will contact you to take more details
- The ASBAT will decide whether the matter should be investigated by them, your local housing office or be reffered to another agency
Noise nuisance
You can contact the council's Noise Response Team. If you have problems with your neighbours it’s often best to talk to them yourself if you can or it is safe to do so. If you or they are council tenants and you can’t speak to them or if it doesn’t work, you should inform your local housing office.
In order to deal with your problem it is important to give the office as much detail as possible. You should keep a record of incidents, include dates, times and whether there were any witnesses. Nuisance ‘diaries’ are available from your housing office.
|topDomestic violence
Violence in the home can include physical attacks, threats, sexual abuse, rape or incest. We will always try to ensure the safety of people who have suffered from violence or who are at risk of violence. If you are at risk contact your local housing office where you will be given information, help and advice about action against the perpetrator and on how to improve security in your home.
Although the sufferers of domestic violence are overwhelmingly women, men can also be victims.
We can provide temporary accommodation in exceptional circumstances. Outside normal working hours, you should go to a police station or contact the Emergency Service 020 8348 3148
You may need other accommodation, either as a permanent move or for a short time while things are sorted out. If you want to return to your home and want the person who was violent removed from there, we will give you advice on how to do this.
We will always try to ensure the safety of people who have suffered from violence or who are at risk of violence. If you are at risk, contact Hearthstone. Hearthstone is Haringey’s domestic violence advice and support centre. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to help with temporary accommodation. Outside normal working hours, you should go to a police station or contact the Emergency Service 020 8348 3148
|topWhere can I live?
If you are married or living as a couple with someone and your relationship breaks down the following guidance applies to you. The actions that you and the council can take will vary according to your tenancy status.
If you are not a council tenant, you should contact the Housing Advice and Homelessness Service at Apex House, staff there can explain what can be done and discuss your options.
If you are the sole tenant, you have the right to remove the other person from your home. Consult a solicitor, advice bureau or law centre for advice on how to do this. If it is not safe for you to return home, go to your local housing office for advice on temporary accommodation and/or a transfer.
If your partner is the sole tenant and has asked you to leave, you should get advice. Ask your local housing office where to go for advice. You are potentially homeless, and in some circumstances the council may re-house you. Even if the council can’t re-house you, you can still get help and advice.
If you are a joint tenant of a council property and you have dependent children, the council will usually allow you to stay in the family home. The other partner will normally be offered re-housing unless there is evidence of violence (for example, an injunction or a conviction for assault). In these cases we will not usually re-house the person who has been violent. If there are no dependent children, housing staff will discuss with both parties who should remain in the home. The other person may be offered re-housing.
If there has been violence you may want a temporary or permanent move instead of having the tenancy put in your name only. Your local housing office can help and advise.
If the home will be larger than you need after your partner has left, your local housing office will discuss your options for a transfer.
|topDealing with anti-social behaviour (A guide to how we can help)
Anti-social behaviour comes in many different forms. It ranges from serious acts of violence and harassment, to more 'everyday' incidents like noisy neighbours. Whatever the problem, we take all complaints seriously. Our Anti-Social Behaviour Action Team will act quickly to stop-anti-social behaviour. Please see the leaflet in the attached files section below on how we can help council tenants, leaseholders, private sector residents and home owners.
|
Update MePage Last Updated: 30 September 2008
This page belongs to the following categories :
- Housing
- Policing and public safety > Crime and law enforcement > Anti-social behaviour
