20 Nov 2024
Our safer communities team recently worked with several agencies to make a town centre a much safer place for the community.
The police made us aware of ongoing incidents of criminal and antisocial behaviour (ASB) taking place in a town centre.
These incidents included assaults on shop workers, threatening members of the public and causing damage to shops.
What did we do?
We worked with the Police, the family and social services to come up with possible solutions. It was decided that we would work with the family rather than the young people involved in the incidents.
The first stages of tenancy action include getting verbal agreements from tenants that they won't engage in specific acts. If these don’t work, we then move on to verbal and written warnings.
Due to the nature of the incidents, and the length of time they had been happening, it was decided that it was appropriate to skip the first stages of tenancy action and jump straight to an unacceptable behaviour warning with strict conditions attached, which if not followed, meant the risk of possession proceedings. An unacceptable behaviour warning is the last letter we send to tenants to try and stop ASB, we often deliver these letters in person and talk to the perpetrator.
If the behaviour continues then we issue a notice of possession of the property or a section 21. You can read more about a section 21 here.
What was the outcome?
After the unacceptable behaviour warning was served the perpetrator and ASB in the town centre immediately stopped. This was the best outcome for everyone involved and we continue to work with all agencies involved to offer our constant support to the family.
There have been a few minor incidents since but, overall, our involvement has been pivotal in successfully achieving a positive outcome.