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Victims of anti-social behaviour deserve better
This Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, the results of our latest survey show we are failing when it comes to supporting victims, writes Tom Nevitt, head of business development at Resolve
Tom Nevitt is head of business development at Resolve
Left unresolved, anti-social behaviour (ASB) devastates the lives of victims, wreaks havoc on communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.
With an estimated five million incidents of ASB nationwide last year, it is no surprise that ASB has forced more than one in seven of us to consider moving home.
There are four key issues that should be addressed as a priority.
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ASB is severely underreported
Resolve’s new survey found that 57% of those who have been a victim or witness of ASB in the past three years did not report it to anybody. People don’t report ASB for several reasons, but if ASB is not reported, it’s unlikely to be addressed by the relevant authorities.
So how can we increase reporting?
Of those victims and witnesses who didn’t report ASB, 40% said they would be more likely to report it in future if they received information about how to do so. Dishearteningly, in the past year, just 7% of people noticed information about what to do if you are a victim of ASB (this figure was 5% in 2023 and 2022).
“We need more mediation, restorative justice, mentoring, and a focus on community leadership and ownership”
We need a national, long-term and comprehensive communications campaign focused on how to report ASB, what your rights are as a victim, and how to access support.
Something as simple as a paragraph about this on the back of a council tax letter could have a significant impact. By improving the frequency and quality of our communications, we can help to empower communities, reduce ASB and increase reporting.
Early action is better
We need a greater focus on – and funding for – early intervention and preventative measures. We need more mediation, restorative justice, mentoring, and a focus on community leadership and ownership.
We know that the drivers of ASB are often complex, and we must retain and increase consideration for adverse childhood experiences, mental health problems, drug and alcohol misuse, and other factors that may place victims or perpetrators at increased risk of vulnerability.
Engaging with young people presents a prime opportunity to nip ASB in the bud and steer them towards pro-social behaviour. Initiatives such as the Premier League’s Kicks and Inspires programmes, and the many grassroots organisations offering similar services, should be supported to engage those young people who are harder to reach or excluded from school.
A focus on longer-term ‘challenge and change’ through civil action and positive requirements, and better funding provisions for those who need it, would also make a big difference.
Victims not guaranteed support
The most harmful and damaging type of ASB is that which is persistent, ongoing and never-ending.
Being a victim of persistent ASB can be all-consuming. Many case studies highlight this, some tragically ending in suicide or murder.
That is why victims of repeated, ongoing ASB should be able to access victim support, no questions asked, no matter where they live in the country.
There is currently a postcode lottery when it comes to support for victims of ASB. No matter how harmful the behaviour, depending on where you live in the country, you might be completely unable to access victim support services.
Victims of ongoing, persistent ASB should be able to access support, no matter where they live.
Agencies unable to access information
Housing providers are well-placed to deal with ASB, but resolving it often requires a multi-agency approach. It is extremely common for one agency (eg a housing provider) to require information from another agency (eg a health service), to resolve an issue effectively.
“No matter how harmful the anti-social behaviour, depending on where you live in the country, you might be completely unable to access victim support services”
In a recent survey of Resolve members, a staggering 96% said they struggle to get the information they need from another agency at least ‘some of the time’, with 46% saying they struggled ‘often’.
Despite legislation to facilitate information-sharing between community safety partners being in place (the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, Section 115), we know many agencies are subjected to extra restrictions and varying information-sharing protocols.
We need one single information-sharing agreement, signed off nationally, which all agencies can rely upon to get the information they need when responding to anti-social behaviour and other community safety issues.
Tom Nevitt, head of business development, Resolve
