‘Know Your Rights’ - Northamptonshire Police joins partners to support third annual Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week

Today marks the beginning of Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week (July 3-9), which is being supported by Northamptonshire Police to spread the word about all things ASB, including the national relaunch of a process used to ensure reports are dealt with effectively.

Run annually by community safety and antisocial behaviour (ASB) experts Resolve, the awareness week aims to highlight the impact of ASB, bust myths about it, share best practice among those tackling it, and educate and inform the public.

This year’s ASB Awareness Week theme is ‘Know Your Rights’, with a focus on a process which is now called the ASB case review.

This is a powerful tool to ensure all relevant bodies, which can include the police, are brought together to re-assess qualifying complaints about serious and persistent ASB, but one that many people aren’t aware exists.

Sergeant Wyn Hughes, anti-social behaviour sergeant at Northamptonshire Police, said: “We’ve supported national Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week since it began three years ago.

“Tackling ASB is part and parcel of daily police work, and we don’t underestimate the impact ASB can have on people’s quality of life.

“Formerly known as the community trigger, the ASB case review isn’t about apportioning blame, but rather on problem-solving the case, using the expertise of partner agencies to identify a way to resolve ASB issues.

“The more people who know about the case review process, the more effectively we and partners can help those affected by ASB, and prevent it from becoming a repeated problem for them.”

Over the week, the Force will be highlighting how it addresses ASB issues that fall under the remit of police, as well as sharing information on how people affected by ASB can access help and support.

Officers will also be out across the county at events organised by council and other partners, to speak to people and provide advice and help about any concerns they may have.

The Force has also signed up the to the ASB Help Pledge, which sets out agreed values and working practices for bodies such as the police and councils who have a responsibility for tackling different types of ASB.

Sgt Hughes said: “ASB comes in many forms, and not all of these are police matters – for example, noise complaints are dealt with by council environmental health teams.

“The pledge stands for promoting awareness, legislation and best practice, easily accessible, development and improvement, getting talking to victims, and empowerment.

“It’s about standardising forms and processes across the county, to provide a consistent approach to the ASB case review.

“We hope this can make sure everyone reporting qualifying ASB complaints can have confidence in the processes involved and feel informed about what is happening, so they trust that their concerns are being taken seriously and addressed appropriately.”

Find out more about the ASB case review, and submit a request, here: Anti-social behaviour and the anti-social behaviour case review | West Northamptonshire Council (westnorthants.gov.uk) for residents of West Northamptonshire Council, and here:Anti-social behaviour case reviews | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk) for residents of North Northamptonshire Council.