ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
What is anti-social behaviour?
The term anti-social behaviour includes a range of disorderly conduct, that is usually selfish and unacceptable. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defines anti-social behaviour as:
"behaviour that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as the complaint"
The key to categorising behaviour as anti-social is the consideration of its impacts on others, so it can include:
- Intimidation and harassment of neighbours
- Criminal damage
- Graffiti
- Vehicle related nuisance
- Street prostitution and kerb crawling
- Anti-social drinking
- and more...
There are a number of ways of reporting anti-social behaviour:
- Fill in an incident diary - which can be downloaded from the link below and is available from Co-op stores in Ipswich
- Using the freephone number 0800 138 6570
- Using the Action Area local rate number 0845 605 2222
- Send a picture phone message from a camera phone by texting "Ipswich" and the location to 07739 888558
On receipt of a report the information is recorded on a database, the report is copied and a copy is always sent to the Housing Provider, Community Police Officer's Sergeant and Community Police Officer.
If the complaint is noise related the report is sent to Environmental Health, if it involves prostitution a copy is sent to the Community Safety Officer and if it is drug or alcohol related the Substance Misuse Officer receives a copy. If the report involves graffiti or littering Streetcare are informed.
The reporting system is undergoing some change at the moment in order to deal with problems more efficiently. A new incident diary has been introduced in order to effectively record the anti-social behaviour that is experienced. These should be completed and sent to the Anti-Social Behaviour Network Manager for the complaint to be dealt with.
Download the INCIDENT DIARY here (opens in a new window)
Respect Zone Status
Ipswich is one of 40 areas in the country to be made a Home Office Respect Zone, this does not mean we are in the 40 worst areas in the country, it is instead a recognition that much good work has been put in place to tackle anti-social behaviour, but there is still some more work to be done.
Being made a Respect Zone means that we have to focus our work on tackling anti-social behaviour in 5 specific ways.
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We have to put in place measures to address parenting and a Senior Parenting Practitioner will be in post by mid-2007. This person will be responsible for co-ordinating parenting provision in Ipswich and linked in with schools and other agencies.
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We have to run a Family Intervention Project to provide long term intensive support to the most troubled families.
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We have to hold Face the People sessions to let the public know what we are doing and seek their views.
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We have to effectively use the Tools and Powers at our disposal to deal with issues such as closing drug dens and imposing dispersal orders in the problematic areas.
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We have to be signed up the Respect Housing Management Standard.
Most importantly we have to encourage people to "Give Respect - Get Respect".
More information can be found at www.respect.gov.uk
Ipswich Anti-Social Behaviour Network Manager
Police Station
Civic Drive
IP1 2AW
01473 383282