ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Although Tendring is one of the safest places to live in Essex, there still exists disproportionate worry about crime. Anti-social behaviour was identified as being of public concern and a high profile issue nationally.

The findings from the Crime Matters Survey undertaken in September 2004 identified that 60% if respondents considered initiatives to reduce anti-social behaviour of vital importance and 28% of great importance.

What does this mean for Tendring?

Tendring Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership has made a strong commitment to reduce the incidence of anti-social behaviour by 15% by 2008.

The partnership ASB strategy and protocol has recently been recast to take into account changes in policy and legislation and to reflect the more pro-active enforcement approach taken by the partners such as the police and TDC.

This new Protocol details the methods by which all partners should work together to tackle anti-social behaviour including the use of problem-solving. It also includes flowcharts to illustrate how the Council handles calls to the anti-social behaviour reporting line.
 

What is Anti-Social Behaviour?

Anti-social behaviour is defined as the following:

‘The person has acted in an anti-social manner, that is to say, in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as the perpetrator’.

Anti-social behaviour is often used to describe behaviour that is in fact not anti-social, just different. When investigating complaints of anti-social behaviour, all must be satisfied that the complainant is not motivated by discrimination/victimisation on the grounds of sex, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or other discriminatory grounds.

Behaviour that results from different lifestyles, religious beliefs etc or which would not be considered unreasonable by most people is not anti-social.

It is very important that each individual is tolerant of other people’s lifestyles.

Please see table 1 below, which highlights what constitutes anti-social behaviour.

Table 1. Typology of Anti-Social Behaviour

Support Agencies (In alphabetical order)

If you are a victim or witness to anti-social behaviour there are a number of organisations in place to provide support and advice such as:

Anti-Social Behaviour Hotline
Tel: 0845 605 2222
Local hotline to report incidents of anti-social behaviour run by the Tendring Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.


Anti-Bullying - www.antibullying.net
A comprehensive web-site dealing with many aspects in bullying in the home, school and workplace.


Colchester Gay & Lesbian Switchboard
Tel: 01206 871394
Confidential help line for homophobic incidents.


Essex Fire & Rescue - www.essex-fire.gov.uk
A detailed web-site, containing information on all aspects of the Fire and Rescue Service.


Essex Police - www.essex.police.uk
Tel: 01255 221312
A comprehensive web-site containing Police news and information.


Essex Racial Equalities Council
Tel: 01702 333351


Tendring District Council Housing - www.tendringdc.gov.uk
Tel: 01255 686868
In the event of anti-social behaviour in, or involving Council property the estates managers can be contacted as included in the tenancy agreement.


Neighbourhood Watch
Tel: 01255 254020
Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer.


Race Action Net - www.raceactionnet.co.uk
A unique on-line service providing contacts and knowledge to practitioners and policy makers for dealing with racist incidents, racial harassment and racist crimes.


Suzy Lamplugh Trust - www.suzylamplugh.org
A national charity promoting personal safety and offering training and seminars of various personal safety topics.


Victim Support Essex - www.victimsupport.org
Tel: 0845 30 30 900
A national charity with trained volunteers who offer free confidential support and information to victims of anti-social behaviour.


Women’s Aid - www.womensaid.org.uk
Tel: 08457 023468
National 24hr confidential domestic violence help line working to end domestic violence against women and children.


Further reading on anti-social behaviour can be found at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/anti-social-behaviour