The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced the Community Trigger which gives victims of anti-social behaviour and communities the right to request a review of their case and bring agencies together to take a joined up, problem solving approach to find a solution.
About the Community Trigger
From 20 October 2014, Victims of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) can use the community trigger to request a review of their case. Agencies, including councils, police, local health teams and registered providers of social housing have a duty to undertake a review of how they have dealt with a case when the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome and the case meets our locally defined threshold.
The Community Trigger can be used by any victim of anti-social behaviour or by any person acting on their behalf, for example a family member, friend, carer, councillor, MP or other professional person. This is intended to ensure that all victims are able to use the Community Trigger. However, the victim’s consent should be sought by the person using the Community Trigger on their behalf.
The Community Trigger should not be used to complain about a single organisation. If your complaint is about an individual organisation you are advised to follow their complaints procedure.
How can I use the Community Trigger?
To meet the requirements of the community trigger threshold, one of the following criteria must be met.
3 or more complaints in the last 6 months from one individual about the same problem,
or
5 individuals complaining about the same or similar incidents in the last 6 months,
or
1 incident motivated by hate in the last 6 months from one individual.
You can either:
· Complete the Community Trigger Form
· Write a letter to Community Trigger, Rossendale Borough Council, Futures Park, Bacup, OL13 0BB
· Telephone 01706 217777 and quote Community Trigger
· Email asb@rossendalebc.gov.uk please mark your email ‘Community Trigger’
· You will need to provide details of each time you've complained, who you've complained to (name, organisation and/or Incident Reference Number) and information about the anti-social behaviour.
Community Trigger FAQ's
Q. What is the purpose of the Community Trigger?
A. The purpose of the Community Trigger is to enable members of the public to ask for a review of their antisocial behaviour case to be carried out. This will allow all involved agencies to assess the way in which the ASB complaint(s) have been dealt with so far, and what further actions can be put in place to resolve the issues.
Q. What is the Community Trigger Threshold in Lancashire?
A. The threshold for requesting an anti-social behaviour case review has been set in Lancashire as:
a) 3 or more complaints in the last 6 months from one individual about the same problem, or;
b) 5 individuals complaining about the same or similar incidents in the last 6 months, or;
c) 1 incident motivated by hate in the last 6 months from one individual.
Q. Why has a threshold been set?
A. Agencies in Lancashire deal with a great number of antisocial behaviour cases per year and, whilst the majority of these can be dealt with quickly, some cases prove to be much more complex. The purpose of setting this threshold for the Community Trigger is to ensure that the victims with the most complex circumstances are enabled to request that their antisocial behaviour case be reviewed.
Q. What happens now that I have asked for a review of my case?
A. Partner agencies including Lancashire Constabulary, ourselves, the Clinical Commissioning Group and a Registered Social Landlord (where relevant) will be asked to provide the information that they hold relating to your case and any actions that they have already taken or considered in order to deal with it. We will then collectively decide whether or not your circumstances meet the threshold criteria.
If a decision is made that your case meets the Community Trigger threshold, a meeting will take place between the appropriate agencies to discuss your case. Please note that Community Trigger Reviews are held during the first week of every month (usually approximately 4 weeks apart) at a meeting called the Anti-Social Behaviour Risk Assessment Conference (ASBRAC). The review will consider the history of the case, what action has been taken and whether things can be done differently. We may need to contact you for more information about your complaint.
Following the review, you will be contacted by a representative from one of the partner agencies to explain the outcome of the Review. The response will include:
1) Whether the review has shown that there are additional actions that can be taken which may resolve your complaint or;
2) Whether the review has shown that all appropriate action has been taken.
If a decision is made that your case doesn’t meet the Community Trigger threshold then the individual agencies will continue to engage with you through their normal methods of dealing with anti-social behaviour.
** IN BOTH CASES, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO REPORT ANY NEW INCIDENTS OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY. **
Q. What if I am unhappy with the result of the review?
A. The review of your case will take into account all of the actions that the partner agencies can reasonably carry out within the boundary of the law and with available resources. If you are unhappy with the agencies' response and feel that more could reasonably be done then you can request a 2nd stage review. A decision to carry out a 2nd stage review would be made on a case by case basis.
Q. What if I am unhappy with the way particular agency is handling my Anti-Social Behaviour complaint?
A. The Community Trigger process should not be used where a victim is dissatisfied with the way a particular agency is dealing with their case. Where this is the case, the standard complaints procedure for that organisation should be used. Ourselves, Lancashire Constabulary, the Clinical Commissioning Group and Registered Social Landlords all have a published complaints procedure, the details of which can be found on each of their websites.