Community Trigger

Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review - (Commonly known as the Community Trigger).

The Community Trigger allows victims of anti-social behaviour, whether an individual, a business or a community group, to ask for a review of their case where they feel that either no or inadequate action has been taken to resolve the reported problems.

In 2022/23, one application for a case review was received. The threshold was met and recommendations were made following the review. The case went to appeal and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner upheld the findings.

What is Anti-social Behaviour?

For the purpose of the Community Trigger, anti-social behaviour means behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress.

How can I use the Community Trigger?

In a case where a complaint of anti-social behaviour has been made in a particular local council area, the police, local council, clinical commissioning groups and social housing providers must carry out an anti-social behaviour case review of the response to that behaviour if an application for such a review is received, and it is determined that the threshold for a review is met.

What is the threshold for the Community Trigger?

At least three qualifying complaints must have been made about anti-social behaviour to which the application relates. A complaint about anti-social behaviour is a qualifying complaint if the following criteria are met:

  • The complaint is made within a period of one month of the alleged behaviour occurring.

  • The application for a case review is received within a period of six months from the date of the first complaint.

The complaint about anti-social behaviour can have been made to any of the following bodies:

  • Police

  • Local Council

  • Clinical Commissioning Group

  • Social Housing Provider

If you believe your compliant meets the criteria for the Community Trigger you will need to complete an application form. You may complete the application form via telephone 0115 917 3282, by emailing spc@broxtowe.gov.uk  or by requesting an application form by writing to:

Broxtowe Borough Council
Council Offices
Foster Avenue, Beeston
Nottingham, NG9 1AB

What happens once I have applied?

Please see the Community Trigger Procedure in the Supporting Documents section.

Before completing the community trigger form please read the following advice

What is meant by no action taken?

  • The reported problems have not been acknowledged, that is, no-one contacted you to advise what the next steps were and advised what action would need to be taken, including action by yourself in order for agencies to progress the case.
  • The reported problems have not been appropriately investigated.
  • Your vulnerability and/or the potential for harm has not been considered and this has affected potential service delivery.
  • No action has been taken because information has not been shared between partners and this has affected potential service delivery.

What is NOT suitable for a community trigger?

  • If you have reported ASB which relates to activity which is lawfully undertaken by another party:
    • You will be informed that the activity is lawful and no action can be taken under ASB legislation.
  • If you have reported ASB however agencies are unable to establish sufficient evidence regarding the identity of the perpetrator/s in order for them to take action or where taking action against the whole community would not be proportional.
    • You will be informed that action can only be taken where the identity of the perpetrator is established.
  • If you have reported ASB however agencies are unable to secure, and you are unable to provide the body of corroborated evidence required by agencies for them to lawfully take action:                           
    • You will be asked to continue to provide evidence to progress the case.
  • If you have reported ASB which is considered a low tolerance to normal living activity:
    • You will be advised to contact your GP or other health professional for support.
  • If you have reported ASB however insufficient evidence is established and you have declined to assist agencies in establishing the body of evidence they require to lawfully take action:
    • You will be informed of the action you need to take to progress the case.
  • In some circumstances it is inappropriate for agencies to take action due to the vulnerabilities of the perpetrator until all avenues of support have been investigated and offered:
    • You will be informed this is the case however agencies will be unable to discuss those vulnerabilities with you.
  • If you have reported ASB and received a service but you are unhappy with the service you received or action taken:
    • You will be advised to submit a complaint under the agency's complaints procedures.
  • If you have reported ASB to more than one agency and are unhappy that one of those agencies has not taken action:
    • You will be informed that action against an individual for an incident/s can only be taken once so where an action has already been taken by an agency further action can’t be taken by a different agency for the same incident/s.
  • If you have reported complaints of ASB that are over six months old:
    • You will be informed that you cannot activate a community trigger.
  • If you have not reported the ASB within 1 month of the ASB taking place: 
    • You will be informed that you cannot activate a community trigger.
  • If applications are considered to be prejudicial, discriminatory, malicious, unreasonable, vexatious or frivolous, they may be rejected.

 


Contact
Communities
tel: 0115 917 3492