Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week – ASB and health

As Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week continues, today’s topic is anti-social behaviour (ASB) and health.

For police officers, the main health consideration around ASB issues is mental health, and how this relates to both victims of ASB and those carrying it out.

Northamptonshire Police does not underestimate the effect of ASB on individuals and communities – it is not a low-level form of offending and can devastate people’s lives, as well as being a starting point for more serious crime.

When officers are dealing with a report of ASB, they will carry out a risk assessment for the victim to establish the impact on them.

Health issues, including mental health, are considered as part of this, especially as experiencing ASB can have a marked effect on a person’s mental wellbeing. We will also consider the mental health of the perpetrators when looking at our ASB problem-solving and enforcement options.

To help us with this, the Force works in partnership with local mental health services to send out, where required, a car crewed with both a police officer and a mental health specialist to assess the mental health of anyone involved in an incident.

This allows a prompt diagnosis of any mental health condition, and provides the police with guidance on how best to deal with a situation.

A process called a proportionality risk assessment is used to capture the impact of the offending behaviour, including the harm caused to others or the wider community, and the personal circumstances of the person involved, including any mental health conditions.

This helps us to make sure we make lawful and proportionate decisions in how to progress a case – this may mean seeking medical, welfare or mental health support, making a referral to health or safeguarding partners, or taking civil or criminal enforcement action.

Taking enforcement action that may result in a court appearance will only be considered where the risk to the victim or community is such that a resolution of the situation cannot be achieved any other way.

Reporting ASB and finding support

If you’re affected by ASB, please don’t suffer in silence. Reporting it allows the police and partners to see what’s happening, and take steps to protect and support you, as well as address the behaviour itself.

Information on ASB, including how to report it, is available here.

Report non-emergency incidents via 101, or call 999 in an emergency, where a crime is in progress or life is at risk.

Voice provides free support to victims and witnesses of crime, including ASB. Find out more and access help here.