Antisocial Behaviour

Stevenage is fortunate that antisocial behaviour is rarer here than in many other places. However, it is important that when such conduct does occur, residents know that help is available.

SoSafe's partners, including the police, Stevenage Borough Council and Stevenage Homes are determined to ensure that the minority engaging in antisocial behaviour are dealt with.

Some of this behaviour is unlawful and some is just simply a nuisance. It lowers the standard of areas and often becomes the catalyst for areas to be hot spots for minor crime. This in turn can have a serious and detrimental effect on the quality of life enjoyed not only by individuals but whole neighbourhoods and communities.

• For advice you can talk to our antisocial behaviour coordinator, telephone:  01438 242242
• Alternatively, for Police advice follow the link from our information on Stevenage's neighbourhood policing team.

According to the Home Office website www.homeoffice.gov.uk if antisocial behaviour is affecting your quality of life or making you fear for your safety, then you should contact the Police.

If you are experiencing antisocial behaviour, the incident log sheet available for download below can be used to keep a record of what is happening. This can be used to help the council and other agencies, including the Police, decide what action to take.

Incident Log Sheet

Taking Action:

Domestic violence: includes social isolation; physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse.

• Stevenage Police has a dedicated domestic violence officer who can offer advice. Direct line: 01438 757668; or
• www.stevenageneighbourhoodwatch.org/tml/domestic_violence.html
• There is also the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline: 0800 2000 247.
• www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk
• For more contact details please also see SoSafe's information on Domestic Violence

Noise nuisance: is the most common form of nuisance that housing office staff receive complaints about, for example loud music, dogs barking, car alarms or rowdy behaviour.

• See the Noise Pollution page for more information.
• Or to make a noise nuisance complaint contact Environmental Health: telephone 01438 242916 or email env.health@stevenage.gov.uk

Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs): are court orders that forbid specific threatening or intimidating actions.

• According to www.homeoffice.gov.uk agencies that can apply for an ASBO to be issued against a trouble-maker include local authorities such as Stevenage Borough Council, the police, registered social landlords and housing action trusts.
• An ASBO is a civil order, not a criminal penalty, and can be issued against anyone 10 years old and over.
• ASBOs are in effect for a minimum of two years, and can ban a person from: threatening/intimidating/disruptive behaviour; spending time with a particular group of friends; or visiting certain areas.

Antisocial behaviour injunctions (ASBIs): Stevenage Homes (SHL) and registered social landlords can apply for anti-social behaviour injunctions to stop antisocial behaviour that affects the management of their housing.

Mediation: If you have tried resolving a neighbour dispute by addressing the person causing concern and been unsuccessful, or if you would like an impartial third party to help, then mediation is an option. (Often, people are unaware they are causing a nuisance).

• For more information please visit the Home Office's website on: www.respect.gov.uk/members/article.aspx?id=7760
• Or read guidance on the Citizens Advice Bureau's website on neighbour disputes (everything from noise to ball games): www.citizensadvice.org.uk which has a link to mediators via: www.adrnow.org.uk
• Locally there is also Stevenage Citizens Advice Bureau, at Swingate House, Danestrete:
• Phone: 0845 1203789 or visit: www.stevenagecab.org.uk

Stevenage Homes: supports tenants who witness instances of harassment, antisocial behaviour, noise and nuisance. SHL also takes action on a wide range of behaviour which causes disruption, distress/harm to tenants.

• Stevenage Homes antisocial behaviour information

Neighbourhood support: forums are held regularly throughout the year in each of Stevenage's six neighbourhoods.

• These community meetings, attended by local councillors, community development officers, Stevenage Borough Council staff and representatives of other organisations, provide another avenue to air concerns about neighbourhood issues, such as rowdy ball games or the need for additional CCTV coverage.
• To obtain contact information about local councillors or community development officers; read agendas for pending meetings or to make a request for funding for neighbourhood safety initiatives please visit: SOneighbourly

Clean our streets: whether it is to clean up graffiti, flytipping, broken glass or abandoned shopping trolleys, Stevenage Borough Council's Street Smart service is helping to keep the city's roads clean.

• Or phone the council on: 01438 242242
• For information on additional services such as abandoned vehicles, vandalism and dog fouling, please see: Street Care and Cleaning