Meeting documents

For Members to consider the attached report.

Contact officer: Chris Oliver 01296 585005

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) covered a wide range of terms which was generally accepted as conduct that caused, or was likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person. AVDC was a statutory member of the Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership which involved working with the police and other agencies to reduce disorder and crime within Aylesbury Vale. AVDC also had a responsibility to tackle environmental ASB, which included noise nuisance, graffiti, litter and abandoned cars. In addition to an overview of ASB, Members heard details of national cases which highlighted failures of Local Authorities and the police in responding to individuals that were targets of ASB.

The Committee received a report which outlined a clearer process for staff and residents to follow when dealing with cases of ASB:

Hate crime (racial/homophobic/disablist incident) or suspected domestic violence - Report the incident to Thames Valley Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Excessive, persistent noise or public health issues (includes noise, artificial light, odour, smoke & animals) – Full instructions on this website: https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/section/nuisance

The Policy contained contact details of social housing organisations so that landlords could be contacted by residents if their tenants were a cause of ASB.

Abandoned cars – there was an online form that needed to be filled out by the person reporting. The form, along with guidance and further information, was available at this website: https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/abandoned-vehicles

Graffiti­ – AVDC could only remove graffiti that was on AVDC land; if it was on private property then AVDC would make the owner aware and request its removal. Reporting graffiti could be done online: https://eforms.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/ShowForm.asp?fm_fid=34

Report a concern about the safety of a child - contact Social Services on 01296 383999 or out of hours the Social Services Care Line on 0800 137915.

Report a concern about the safety of a vulnerable adult – contact Adult Social Care Services on 0800 137915

Domestic Violence – this included threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. Help and advice for various forms of domestic violence, including telephone contact details, could be found on AVDC’s website: https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/domestic-violence

Members sought more information from officers and were advised that:-

      i.        Early ASB intervention was proven to be an effective methodology. The policy offered different tools of low level intervention first; for instance a telephone call to find common ground between the parties. Interventional action could then be escalated as appropriate.

     ii.        AVDC officers in Community Safety worked closely with Police Community Support Officers and made Safeguarding referrals to Social Services at Buckinghamshire County Council. The Community Safety team also worked in partnership with Housing Trusts.

    iii.        Noise complaints from a House of Multiple Occupancy would initially be referred to Environmental Health for investigation.

   iv.        There was merit in circulating the ASB process to Parishes for their reference once Cabinet had considered the item.

    v.        Proportionate action to ASB problems was on a case by case basis with reference to a police risk matrix process.

The Committee requested that the policy is amended to include an explanation regarding the ‘subjective’ proportionality of a response from the ASB team in relation to a victim-centred approach.

RESOLVED –

That the Scrutiny Committee’s comments be referred to Cabinet when they consider the item on 11 September 2018.