Category: Protecting people from harm

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is encouraging victims of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in Surrey to report all concerns straightaway and to the right organisation so that problems are dealt with effectively.

The Commissioner says ASB covers a wide range of issues and it is important for residents to be aware that it is tackled by different agencies, including Surrey Police, local councils and housing providers.

Coinciding with the start of Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, research out today by You Gov and Resolve – the UK’s leading community safety organisation – reveals that ASB continues to have a significant impact on public confidence. According to the survey, more than 1 in 4 adults (28%) say that ASB has made them feel unsafe in their local area. However, almost two-thirds (63%) of victims and witnesses who have experienced anti-social behaviour in the past three years did not report it to anyone.

Under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 and the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, ASB is defined as behaviour that ‘causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to people outside the offender’s household’. It usually falls into three broad categories: personal ASB, where an individual or group is targeted; nuisance ASB, which causes annoyance or suffering to a wider community; and environmental ASB, where behaviour affects public spaces or buildings.

Within those categories are a wide range of behaviours, including offences such as criminal damage, graffiti, taking drugs in public, anti-social use of vehicles, drunken, rowdy or threatening behaviour and vandalism. Other issues, such as persistent noise nuisance, littering or abandoned vehicles, may not always be criminal offences and are often dealt with by councils, housing providers or other agencies.

Because ASB covers such a broad spectrum of incidents, responsibility is shared between a number of organisations. In Surrey, there is a dedicated anti-social behaviour team within Surrey Police that works alongside 30 partner agencies, including local councils, to tackle problems and provide lasting solutions.

The Commissioner has committed to working with Surrey Police and partners to ensure that residents feel listened to, protected and supported.  Last year, Lisa launched the Community Safety and Prevention Board to strengthen collaboration between organisations across Surrey and to close gaps in support available to residents concerned about a number of matters including ASB. The Commissioner’s office also funds Mediation Surrey to provide support free of charge that helps resolve neighbourhood disputes before they escalate.

Alongside this, the Commissioner supports the Anti-Social Case Review process which gives victims who have reported persistent anti-social behaviour on three or more occasions over a six-month period the opportunity to request a review of their case. If the threshold is met, the local Community Safety Partnership brings together agencies including the police, councils and housing providers to review the action taken and identify whether further measures are needed. The Police and Crime Commissioner’s office provides a route for victims to challenge decisions if they remain dissatisfied after the review. 

Anti-social behaviour is an issue that is frequently raised with the Commissioner.  Lisa is currently hosting a series of Policing your Community engagement events across the county alongside Surrey Police and matters such as the dangerous use of e-bikes and catapult crime have most recently been brought up for discussion.

Lisa Townsend said: “Anti-social behaviour can have a detrimental impact on people’s lives and not dealing with it effectively can be devastating.

“It’s concerning that almost two out of three people affected by anti-social behaviour do not report it.  That’s why I want to highlight the different types of anti-social behaviour and the relevant agencies to contact; the importance of timely reporting; and the support available to everyone. 

“It’s deplorable that residents affected by anti-social behaviour feel trapped and helpless as they try to go about their daily lives. I’m committed to listening to residents’ concerns, creating safer communities and providing support to victims.”

Residents can find more information about the different types of ASB, reporting ASB, accessing support and the ASB Case Review process at www.healthysurrey.org.uk/community-safety/asb.   All ASB policing matters should be reported directly to Surrey Police via 101, online or by calling 999 in an emergency.