Antisocial behaviour refers to any persistent or harmful actions that negatively impact other people’s quality of life. As part of our commitment to creating safe and supportive homes and communities for our customers, we take a proactive approach to preventing and dealing with all forms of antisocial behaviour.
We believe that everyone has the right to live and work in a peaceful and respectful environment, so we aim to prevent antisocial behaviour before it starts. Our staff have training to identify and address potential issues, and we work together with customers to maintain a positive atmosphere in our properties. We ask that all our customers and their visitors are considerate of other people’s needs, and we commit to addressing any reports of antisocial behaviour promptly and effectively.
What is considered antisocial behaviour?
Antisocial behaviour can include, but is not limited to:
- Ongoing or persistent noise disturbances, such as loud music or shouting
- Physical violence or threats of violence, including verbal abuse, intimidation, harassment, or threatening behaviour
- Hate-related incidents
- Vandalism, graffiti, or damage to properties
- Littering or fly-tipping
- Criminal behaviour, including drug dealing, or drug or alcohol misuse
- Pets fouling in public spaces
- Misuse of communal areas, public areas or loitering
What is not considered antisocial behaviour?
Having a dispute with your neighbours can be upsetting, but someone’s behaviour may not be classed as ASB if it's not persistent, or if there is no risk of harm. Examples such as these are not considered antisocial behaviour:
- Cooking smells
- DIY during reasonable hours
- Young people gathering socially or children playing
- Someone parking lawfully outside your home
Day-to-day living noises, such as footsteps in a neighbouring property, children playing, household appliances, music or TV noise at a low level
Reporting antisocial behaviour
If you’re a Sanctuary Supported Living resident and you feel you’re experiencing antisocial behaviour, first report it to a member of staff at your service. We encourage open communication and take all reports seriously, and we will respond to any concerns as quickly and effectively as possible - your well-being is our top priority. Our team will assess whether it is antisocial behaviour, so that they can deal with it appropriately. They may ask for more information, so they can understand the impact it’s having, and they may ask you to keep a diary of events. Our staff will deal with the situation sensitively and will explain what action can be taken.
When we receive a report of antisocial behaviour, we take the following steps:
- Investigation - We will investigate the reported behaviour, gathering information from the affected residents, witnesses, and any other relevant sources. We may also involve external agencies, such as the police or local authority, if necessary.
- Support and Mediation - In some cases, we may offer support or mediation services to help resolve conflicts between residents. This can be a constructive way to address the root causes of antisocial behaviour and promote a positive community atmosphere.
- Enforcement - If the antisocial behaviour persists or is of a serious nature, we may take enforcement action. This could include issuing warnings, imposing sanctions, or, in extreme cases, pursuing eviction proceedings. We will always follow legal procedures and work closely with external agencies when taking enforcement action.
Antisocial behaviour case review (Community Trigger)
If you've repeatedly told us about a problem with antisocial behaviour and we haven't done anything to fix it, you can apply for an Antisocial behaviour case review (formerly known as the Community Trigger). To request a case review, contact your local authority and make an application with them. For more information about the Community Trigger and how to activate it, visit Sanctuary’s Community Trigger page.
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