New Anti-Social Behaviour guidelines launched by the Home Office

New guidelines have been launched by government to encourage more people to take a stand against anti-social behaviour and help make communities safer.

The Home Office is using ASB Awareness Week to publish a new set of Anti-Social Behaviour Principles, aimed at encouraging more people to report anti-social behaviour, improving partnership working between different agencies and protecting victims.

Running from 18-22 July, ASB Awareness Week 2022 aims to encourage communities to come together to take a stand against ASB and understand how they can report and deal with issues where they live.

Latest polling from YouGov shows that more than half of people (56%) believe that ‘more needs to be done’ to tackle ASB in their community. However, after they witnessed or experienced ASB, a similar proportion of the public (57%) said that they did not report it to anyone.

The principles make it clear that victims should be encouraged to report ASB and can expect to be taken seriously when they do. They also call for much clearer pathways for reporting incidents, and ensure perpetrators have an opportunity to repair the harm they cause.  

The guidelines are being backed by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, National Fire Chiefs’ Council, Local Government Association, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Office of the Victims Commissioner, Historic England, along with community safety groups Resolve and ASB Help. 

Rochdale MP Sir Tony Lloyd has also backed the campaign.

He said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community. Far too often I've met with constituents who tell me of their experiences of anti-social behaviour and seen the devastating impact it has on them. Some are afraid to leave their homes, feeling like they have nowhere to turn and for some, accepting it as a way of life.

"That is not acceptable. We all have a part to play in tackling it, and I am pleased to offer my support to ASB Awareness Week 2022. It is important that anti-social behaviour continues to be given the priority it needs so that people everywhere feel safe in their homes and communities.

"People mustn’t suffer in silence. Incidents can be reported to the anti-social behaviour team at the local council, or to the police if people feel that they are at immediate risk or in danger."

Organised by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, ASB Awareness Week features a series of events all across the UK involving councils, police forces, housing associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs.

There will be lots of activities throughout ASB Awareness Week, including:

• The launch of the new ASB Principles in Parliament bringing together key voices from across the sector and leading political figures on Monday 18 July
• A Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on Wednesday 20 July led by Jacob Young MP
• Resolve publishing new YouGov research highlighting the impact of ASB on local communities
• Organisations including Neighbourhood Watch groups holding meetings to discuss ASB as part of the World’s Biggest Community Safety Meeting
• A range of local events and interventions in every corner of the UK from police forces, fire services, councils and housing associations
• A social media takeover by local ASB practitioners using the #ASBAwarenessWeek hashtag
• Resolve’s Annual Conference

Resolve is urging members of the public not to suffer in silence if they experience ASB. Incidents can be reported to the anti-social behaviour team at the local council or housing association, or to the police if people feel that they are at immediate risk or in danger.

For more information about ASB Awareness Week – visit www.resolveuk.org.uk/asbawarenessweek