19 Nov 2024
Our Safer Communities team is here to help keep your communities safe, and for you to report any antisocial behaviour (ASB), should you need to.
As part of anti-social behaviour awareness week 2024, we spoke with Chloe, one of our safer communities officers, to find out what happens in her day.
Logging on for the day
Every morning, I log on to check and respond to emails that I have received overnight. I then check whether any of my ongoing cases need reviewing. This could be listening to any noise App recordings received or reviewing diary sheets that need adding on to a case.
Our safer communities team has a 15 minute catch up every morning at 8.30am. This allows us to get together, review new cases that need picking up and discuss what our plans are for the day ahead. This is also a perfect opportunity for us to discuss any problems we may have or to give advice and support.
Resolving Disputes
I received a report of a verbal altercation which had taken place as part of a parking dispute. I called the complainant and took as much information as I could including the date, time and location. The complainant was happy for me to speak to the other party to see if I could help them by mediating between them. Both parties admitted to having used abusive language towards each other. In line with our ASB policy I gave advice to both parties to not speak or engage with each other. If there are any further issues I may consider using a Good Neighbour Agreement which is a tool we often use for issues such as these.
Visit with Police
Later in the morning, I conducted a visit with the police after reports that there had been antisocial behaviour issues at one of our houses. It was reported to the Police that the tenants had visitors to their property who were fighting outside their address, and one of their visitors was suspected to have held a knife. This was causing a nuisance to residents and was now the second incident reported to the police within three weeks. The police and I spoke to our tenant about this and advised them that under their tenancy agreement they were responsible for their visitors. We gave advice that this tenant doesn’t allow visitors to the property to avoid any further reports. A breach of tenancy letter was issued to the tenant along with advice around controlling visitors. We work in close partnership with Police and often carry out joint visits in the community.
Visit to a Complainant
After Lunch I visited a tenant that was experiencing problems with their neighbour who was making comments to them which they felt were threatening. I have an open antisocial behaviour case regarding this neighbour and it is suspected that the neighbour was experiencing possible mental health experiences.
On my return to the office, I liaised with the Police and Social services about our tenant who was possibly experiencing mental health experiences and ensured that safeguarding referrals had been made and that AMPS were contacted. This ensures that even though the tenant is a perpetrator, they are still fully supported with any needs we identify.
Section 21 Serving
I went out to a tenants address with the legal team to serve a section 21 notice on one of our tenants who had been continuing to cause antisocial behaviour at their home and in the local area. They had already been spoken to and warning letters issued but the nuisance was continuing. We explained that we were serving this notice on them and the reasons why. The section 21 notice is used to end a tenancy where there is serious anti social behaviour and the tenant is on a starter tenancy. The section 21 notice gives the tenant two months notice to leave the property before we apply to court for possession. All agencies working with the tenant were informed of this action so that they can support them to find alternative more suitable accommodation.
End of the day
My notes of visits and conversations are written up on our case management system so that there is a clear audit trail of all of my work. I then respond to any further emails before logging off for the day.