Open Decision Item 1

070 1

One Corby Policy Committee 31st August 2010

Anti-Social Behaviour Service Standards

SYNOPSIS We have developed a set of minimum service standards for anti-social behaviour which if endorsed will be adopted by Community Safety, Landlord services and Northants Police to ensure consistency across our services when dealing with victims of anti-social behaviour

1. Relevant Background Details The Home Office have developed a set of national minimum standards for anti-social behaviour – there was an expectation that all Community Safety Partnership’s sign up to these minimum standards by April 2010. We have pledged our commitment to the minimum standards and have demonstrated that we are doing above and beyond these minimum standards which include:

• Reducing perceptions of Antisocial Behaviour year on year;

• Regular updates for every community on what is being done to tackle antisocial behaviour including an expectation to publicise ASBOs to the local community;

• Providing residents with a right of complaint to CSPs if effective action is not taken by local agencies through existing channels;

• support and help for victims of ASB;

• Taking reports of ASB seriously by recording and investigating all cases and committing to keeping victims informed of action taken;

• Ensuring better links between neighbourhood policing and other local partners to deal swiftly with problems.

Our commitment to these standards were shared at the Crime & Disorder Committee (which undertakes the overview & scrutiny role on behalf of the Council) on the 18th March 2010 – along with a set of draft minimum service standards for what the community can expect from Community Safety, Landlord Services and Northants Police. It was recommended by members that the standards be presented to One Corby Policy Committee for approval.

2. Report The standards have been developed in consultation with the police, landlord services and some recent victims of anti-social behaviour. We have developed a leaflet for the public to support the promotion of the standards of which include:

• We will contact all complainants within 48 hours/2 working days of receiving a complaint and provide you with a named contact to ensure you can remain in touch about any concerns you may have

• We will explain to you the options available for dealing with your complaint • We will undertake an initial investigation within 5 working days • We will continue to update you every 14 days until the complaint is closed • We will inform you of any action or decisions taken regarding a case • Interviews will be held at a location suitable to you

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• Corby Borough Council and Northants Police will work together with other organisations and individuals who have an interest in the case

• Complainants can remain anonymous • We will make clear any assistance that it might require from you and seek your

agreement to draw up an action plan on how your case will be investigated • When cases are due to be closed contact is made with complainants and followed up by

written confirmation. Once closed this generates a satisfaction survey being sent.

3. Options to be considered (if any) To adopt the minimum service standards

4. Issues to be taken into account:- Policy Priorities Community Safety, including ASB is a key Corby Borough Council priority, demonstrated through the Corporate Plan, the Community Plan and the Community safety Partnership Plan. In addition anti-social behaviour is recognised as a community priority throughout all four neighbourhood areas

Financial There are no direct financial implications to the adoption of this strategy

Legal Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act states that

“Without prejudice to any other obligation imposed on it, shall be the duty of each Authority to which this Section applies to exercise its various functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on the need to do all that it reasonable can to prevent Crime and Disorder in its area.”

The community safety partnership plan and resultant action plans where Corby Borough Council are a lead or responsible agency are key examples of section 17 compliance. There are a number of anti-social behaviour related action plans.

Performance Information There are a number of national indicators that have a focus on anti-social behaviour including: NI 21 and NI 27 which involves asking the community whether they are confident that the police and local authority know and are dealing with anti-social behaviour in their area.

We have reduced anti-social behaviour by more than 34% in the past 2 years - this means there have been 2,768 less victims. In the last 12 months we have investigated more than 200 anti-social behaviour complaints – of which vary a great deal – as an idea 6 of these were hate related, 37 criminal damage/crime/drug related, 7 related to motorcycle nuisance, 15 parking related, 17 football nuisance related 10 rubbish/litter related and 35 neighbour disputes – 5 of which have received or are receiving mediation.

Referrals have been made to parenting, social services, victim support, prevention team and target hardening and we have worked very closely with the police conducting joint visits and sending warning letters. In addition we have worked with the police and our legal team to secure 7 anti-social behaviour orders and 1 anti-social behaviour injunction – for cases which have required a higher level of enforcement’

Human Rights

Article 5 and Article 8 in particular are relevant – all victims of anti-social behaviour should be supported by Corby Borough Council and Northants Police

Equalities

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The standards will ensure consistency of approach to all residents in the borough – regardless of their tenure, gender, ethnic background, age etc

Community Safety Tackling anti-social behaviour within Corby is seen as a priority of all partner agencies of the Community Safety Partnership and it is intended that the standards will contribute to maintaining and improving the safety of all residents and visitors to Corby.

5. Conclusion We continue to engage with the community to establish what their priorities are and then work in partnership to tackle these priorities. Anti-social behaviour is a common priority across all 4 neighbourhoods and a consistent and effective approach to dealing with anti-social behaviour will enhance the already excellent service that residents receive. The service standards and the wide publicity of the standards will help us to do this, they will make it clear what residents can expect and who from and drive confidence in our communities even further.

6. Recommendation To approve the set of minimum service standards to ensure immediate commitment from Community Safety, Landlord Services and the Police to start using them and communicating them to the public.

List of Appendices Appendix 1 – Draft leaflet for the public detailing our minimum service standards and support for victims and witnessed of anti-social behaviour

Officer to Contact Vicki Rockall (Community Safety Manager) 01536 464647

Anti-Social Behaviour

Victim & Witness

Service Charter

Support

www.corbycsp.co.uk

Your single point of contact is:

Name:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Telephone:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Email:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Emergency Telephone Numbers

1.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We will contact you within 24 hours of receiving the report.

We will identify your support needs and how these might be met, including a person of the same sex referring you to specialist agencies such as the Sun�ower Centre.

We will consider a range of security improvements to allow you to remain safe in your home.

We will consider immediate legal action if you are the victim of violenceor have been threatened with violence.

A Hate Crime or Incident is any behaviour that someone thinks was caused by hatred of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender status.

For victims of Domestic Abuse &Hate incidents: If you would like to �nd out more information about anti-social behaviour

or to report an incident please contact your Community Safety O�cer on 01536 463177 or Northants Police on 03000 111 222

EnglishIf you need help understanding any of our documents or require a larger print, audiotape copy or a translator to help you, we can arrange this for you. Please contact us on the telephone numbers at the bottom of the page

PolishJeżeli potrzebuje Pan/i pomocy w rozumieniu tych dokumentów lub chciałby je Pan/i otrzymać większym drukiem, na kasecie audio lub skorzystać w tym celu z pomocy tłumacza, jesteśmy to Państwu w stanie zapewnić. Prosimy o kontakt pod numerami telefonów na dole strony.

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PortugueseSe precisar de assistência para compreender qualquer um dos nossos documentos ou se precisar deles em tipo grande, em cassete áudio ou de um tradutor podemos tratar do assunto. Deve contactar-nos através dos números ao fundo da página:

Serbian Ако Вам затреба помоћ у тумачењу неког oд наших докумената, или ако Вам је потребан увећани штампани материјал, магнетофонски снимак или преводилац као испомоћ, можемо Вам изаћи у сусрет. Молимо Вас да нам се обратите на неки од телефонских бројева на дну стране:

CroatianUkoliko trebate pomoć prilikom razumijevanja bilo kojeg od naših dokumenata ili želite da bude ispisan većim slovima, ukoliko želite audio kopiju ili pomoć prevoditelja, možemo to organizirati za vas. Molimo da nam se obratite na telefonske brojeve navedene na dnu stranice:

01536 464000 - ENGLISH

01536 464290 - POLSKI (POLISH)

01536 464291 - РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN)

01536 464292 - PORTUGUÊS (PORTUGUESE)

01536 464293 - SRPSKI ILI HRVATSKI (SERBO - CROATIAN)

Useful Contacts

Victim & Witness SupportAnti-Social Behaviour Service Charter& Service Standards

We recognize that anti-social behaviour is a serious problem that a�ects

the quality of life of individuals, families and communities.

We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour, so working in

partnership we will use the full range of powers and resources available,

both criminal and civil to ensure that we take an uncompromising stand

against perpetrators.

We want every member of the community to enjoy their home and

neighbourhood safely and peacefully.

We know that being a witness or victim of anti-social behaviour can cause

stress and upset.

We will ensure that we deal with your case in a timely, supportive and

highly professional way.

As part of our commitment to you we have published our Service

Standards and this Charter, which Charter lists the services that you can

expect from us.

Service CharterTo support you

Take your complaint seriously and thoroughly investigate it.

Ensure our sta� are trained to give you the correct advice.

Assess our reporting mechanisms to ensure accessibility for all.

Provide you with appropriate support working with partners and

other specialist service providers.

Consider the full range of criminal and civil legal actions that may

be taken.

We will provide an ensured level of support for vunerable & repeat

victims.

Provide you with the information on how to complain if you are

not satis�ed with the service received.

In court cases we will o�er to transport and escort you to and from

any court hearings and provide the relevant support through the

witness support unit.

We will contact all complainants within 48 hours / 2 working days

of receiving a complaint and provide you with a named contact

to ensure you can remain in touch about any concerns you may

have.

Service StandardsHow we will support you

www.corbycsp.co.uk

We will contact all complainants within 48 hours / 2 working days of receiving a complaint and provide you with a named contact to ensure you can remain in touch about any concerns you may have.

We will explain to you the options available for dealing with your complaint.

We will undertake an initial investigation within 5 working days.

We will continue to update you every 14 days until the complaint is closed.

We will inform you of any action or decisions taken regarding a case.

Interviews will be held at a location suitable to you.

We will work in partnership with all agencies, organisation and individuals who have an interest in the case.

All complainants’ details are con�dential and will not be disclosed unless the complainant agrees.

We will make clear any assistance that it might require from you and seek your agreement to draw up an action plan on how your case will be investigated

When cases are due to be closed contact is made with complainants and followed up by written con�rmation. Once closed this generates a satisfaction survey being sent.