ASB Awareness Week: Let’s Talk ASB

As part of the national Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week we’re sharing information to help everyone understand more about ASB.

Today’s theme for ASB Awareness Week is ‘Let’s talk about ASB’ – with the aim of raising awareness of ASB, encouraging people to report it, and letting people know more about their rights.

Those suffering because of ASB can feel very alone, with some people feeling they have to just put up with their situation as nothing can be done to improve things.

Thankfully this isn’t true – reporting ASB issues to the police or your local council enables the relevant local partners to build a picture of what’s happening in your community, offer you tailored support, and what they need to focus on to prevent issues continuing.

Sergeant Wyn Hughes, ASB lead for Northamptonshire Police, said: “ASB comes in many forms, and not all of these are police matters – but ASB left unchecked can lead to an escalation into criminal behaviours. The key is to identify an emerging problem as early as possible and to apply early intervention options to prevent escalation.

“We use police data to map out any ASB ‘hotspots’ in our communities to enable our policing teams to focus on those areas. Where we identify emerging issues, we work with our partners to carry out ongoing problem-solving to target those causing the ASB and to support and safeguard victims.

“Applying a neighbourhood problem-solving approach is essential and we benefit from intelligence from our communities. We are increasingly communicating with our communities using Northamptonshire Talking. This is an email-based system where people can register to receive regular updates on crime and ASB in their chosen areas.”

ASB that is a police matter is recorded as ‘ASB nuisance’ – where it is a community rather than an individual being exposed to problem behaviour, or ‘ASB personal’ where someone is being deliberately targeted.

This kind of ASB is closely related to harassment, which will be investigated as a crime, with the root cause subject to ongoing problem-solving.

A harm-centred approach is used to assess ASB situations, enabling an understanding of what harm is being caused to those involved. This is followed by a problem-solving approach with our partners to see if the situation and quality of life for those involved can be improved.

Where intervention options are required, a step-by-step process called the incremental approach is used, which starts with low-level measures which can be gradually increased to incorporate others including notices, orders or injunctions.

It is hoped this can improve quality of life for those causing ASB as well, which can help reduce the likelihood of them continuing the problem behaviour.

Where an issue is civil and the police cannot intervene, we will provide advice and guidance to all those involved to stop the situation from escalating – we know how stressful and challenging it can be for people in these circumstances, which include boundary disputes, parking or planning permission issues, or unavoidable household noise.

Some ASB cases are very complex and the outcomes may not meet the expectations of all those involved.

In these circumstances, especially where the victims feel isolated and afraid, a process called the ASB case review (previously known as the community trigger) can be used. This allows a person, or others acting on behalf their behalf, to request a review of their case.

It isn’t about apportioning blame, but rather aims to continue problem-solving the case, using the expertise of partner agencies to identify a way to resolve ASB issues.

Sgt Hughes said: “We hope by explaining this process, it will help everyone reporting qualifying ASB complaints to have confidence in the processes involved and feel informed about what is happening, and can trust that their concerns are being taken seriously and addressed appropriately.”

Depending on which area you live in, you can find out more about the ASB case review, and submit a request, at:

• West Northamptonshire Council residents
• North Northamptonshire Council residents