New guidance welcomed to improve support for victims of anti-social behaviour

County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed updated guidance to support the effective use of new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Home Office’s ‘Anti-Social Behaviour Powers; Statutory Guidance for Frontline Professionals’, places victims at the heart of efforts to crack down on anti-social behaviour (ASB).

The document provides frontline professionals with support and detailed guidance to get tough on local problems and increase the care provided to victims through new powers introduced through the updated Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The guidance requires police and partner agencies to recognise and consider the debilitating impact that persistent or repeated anti-social behaviour has on its victims.

It clarifies updates to the Community Trigger scheme – a process which gives victims and communities the right to request a review of their case in certain circumstances when a local ‘threshold’ is met and to bring agencies together to take a joined-up, problem-solving approach to find a solution.  

This Community Trigger measure can be activated by a local councillor, MP, carer, family member or other professional, as well as the individual. The new guidance stipulates PCCs should be involved in the process including auditing case reviews, promoting awareness of the trigger, attending trigger meetings as an independent party and providing routes for appeal.

The guidance also provides detailed information about new effective powers available to agencies to strengthen the protection of victims and communities and provide fast and effective responses. These include Civil Injunctions, Criminal Behaviour Orders, Dispersal Powers, Community Protection Notices and Public Spaces Protection Orders.

County Durham and Darlington PCC Joy Allen said: “I welcome the arrival of this new guidance which gives police and partners extra clarity and support on the use of effective powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.

“I am particularly pleased with the emphasis placed on victims and the statutory duty for agencies to consider the psychological and physical impact of these incidents on individuals and their communities.

“Victims of crime should remain at the heart of everything we do. I’ve made it clear that protecting victims of ASB in County Durham and Darlington is a key priority and together with the force and our partners we will utilising these measures to maximum effective in our communities.”

Andrea Patterson, Anti-Social Behaviour Champion on behalf of Commissioner Allen, added: “The new guidance supports the robust approach already taken by the force and its partners to reassure and protect all victims of anti-social behaviour.

“Over the coming weeks, we will be working closely with the force and partner agencies to agree and implement these important changes to ensure victims reap the benefits of these new powers without delay.”

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