Frequently
asked questions
To find
out more about what we're doing to tackle anti-social behaviour in
your area sign up for our ASB e-bulletin.
Simply email us with
'e-bulletin' in the subject line.
General questions
What are the contact details for the anti-social behaviour
(ASB) operations team?
Community safety service operations
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG
Show map
Tel: 020 7364 6162
Fax: 020 7364 6253
Email: antisocialbehaviour@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Who is my case investigation officer?
Once you have logged your complaint you will
receive a call from a dedicated ASB customer services officer who
will take further information from you and you will be informed of
your investigation officer including contact information.
How do I get hold of personal safety equipment?
Please speak to our victim & witness
support team on 020 7364 6318.
Incident reporting
questions
How do I report an incident?
What will happen once I've reported an incident?
The council aims to make contact with the victim within five
working days of the incident being reported. This applies to
incidents reported via the internet, customer contact centre or in
person.
A letter confirming receipt of the report will be sent to the
complainant within three working days of the incident being
reported.
How long does it take to investigate an incident?
The length of the investigation is dependent
upon each individual case. The more complex cases will take longer
to investigate. Your investigation officer will keep you informed
about the progress of your case. As a general rule a case
investigation can last from three to six months.
What is happening to my case?
If you have already reported an incident you
should speak to your dedicated case officer. The officer's details
are on the letter that was sent to you.
If you have not received a letter please call
020 7364 6162.
Is my case going to go to court?
The case investigation officer will be able to
advise you once the investigation process has begun on whether your
case is going to the court or not.
Do I have to give my details?
You may report an incident anonymously, but if
you do we cannot contact you. We encourage you to give your
details, as this will make the investigation process more efficient
and effective. We will not share your information with other
agencies without your consent.
Why can't the police do something about my problems?
If you have already made a report to the
community safety service (CSS) operations team, the investigation
officer will liaise with the police to find solutions to the
problem.
I have youths hanging around outside, what can be done?
You will need to make a report on the free
phone number, which will be used to initiate an investigation or
contact your local safer neighbourhood team.
If you make a report via freephone or
internet, a dedicated investigation officer will be allocated to
this case, which will involve interviewing the victim and also any
witness that can provide evidence of allegations. The
investigating officer will decide on the appropriate outcome.
At this point we are unable to provide any
solutions without a proper investigation.
I think gangs of youths are about to fight, what can be
done?
In an emergency call
999.
The rapid response
team (RRT) will respond to any incident involving groups of youth
that is likely to escalate into serious youth disorder and
violence. This would include:
- fight involving
groups of youth
- incident involving
youth, which is likely to escalate
- serious or life threatening injury
- any serious incident likely to have a adverse impact on the
community
- discovery of weapons
Customer contact centre staff can refer
customers to the RRT for any of the above on 07957 44 19 36 (24
hours).
I am a private resident, can you still help me?
Yes we can help you. We advise that you
check with your current landlord to see if they have an ASB team,
if so please report the incident to your ASB team. If your landlord
does not have an ASB team, we can take your report and initiate the
process.
I am a housing association resident, can you help me?
Your details can be taken by the CSS customer
services team, and sent to your landlord to initiate the
process.
I am a business can you help me?
Yes we can. If this is the first time
you are reporting an incident we can take a report now. If you have
already made a report you will need to speak to your investigating
officer. If you do not have their contact details please call the
CSS Customer Service team on 020 7364 6162.
Where do I go, I've been attacked?
If you have just been attacked please report
it immediately to the police on 999. Once you have reported to the
police, you are not required to make additional reports to CSS
Operations team.
Support related questions
What type of support can I get?
The team will endeavour to help victims and
witnesses feel safe at their residence and can provide further
safety advice.
The team will also brief and prepare witnesses
throughout the court process to provide evidence in court.
I am not satisfied with the case investigation outcome, where
do I complain?
Call 020 7364 4161 or email complaints@towerhamlets.gov.uk or
write to:
The Corporate Complaints Team
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
E14 2BG
Where is my closest neighbourhood housing office?
Find your local housing
office online.
Description or services and
terms
What are professional witnesses?
A specialist team that gathers information and
evidence, and supports the investigation process using the latest
surveillance equipment, operated by professional witnesses.
What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) ranges from
serious acts of violence and harassment to more everyday incidents
and situations like noisy dogs or overgrown gardens. Anti-social
behaviour includes general nuisance and different types of conduct
or activities that could cause interference and annoyance in the
community. For a list of activities that constitute ASB
please refer to the mediated contact document.
What is an ASBO?
Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) are civil
orders made by a court which prohibit the perpetrator from specific
anti-social acts and from entering defined areas on a map
(exclusion zones). An order lasts for a minimum of two years. The
purpose of an ASBO is to protect the public from behaviour that
causes, or is likely to cause, harassment or alarm or distress, not
to punish the perpetrator.
ASBOs are community-based orders that involve
local people in collecting evidence and helping to enforce breaches
of the prohibitions in the order. They are designed to encourage
local communities to become actively involved in reporting crime
and anti-social behaviour, thus building and protecting the
community.
The police, council, registered social
landlords and the British Transport Police can apply for these
orders.
What is an ABC?
An acceptable behaviour contract (also known
as acceptable behaviour agreement) is an intervention designed to
engage an individual in acknowledging his or her anti-social
behaviour and its effect on others, with the aim of stopping that
behaviour.
An (ABC) is a written agreement made
between a person who has been involved in anti-social behaviour and
their council, youth inclusion support panel (YISP), landlord or
the police. ABCs are not set out in law, which is why they are
usually called agreements. Any agency is able to use and adapt the
model.
Although ABCs have often been made with young
people, they are a tool that can be used for a person of any age.
The informal, flexible nature of the contract means they can be
used for various types of anti-social behaviour.
ABCs can be used to promote effective
partnership work with a range of agencies. For example, it is
important that the youth offending team is contacted and becomes
involved when completing an ABC with a young person.
What is a dispersal order and the good behaviour zone?
Part 4 (sections 30-36) of the Anti-social
Behaviour Act 2003 gives the police, working with local
authorities, new powers to target action in problem areas to help
communities remove intimidation and anti-social behaviour from
their streets. These powers have been available since 20 January
2004.
The powers enable a senior police officer to
designate an area where there is persistent anti-social behaviour
and a problem with groups causing intimidation. This area could be
as small as a cash point or shopping arcade where groups often
gather, or it could be as wide as a whole local authority area, as
long as there is evidence of anti-social behaviour. The local
authority must also agree to the designation, usually this decision
will be made as part of the strategic work of a crime and disorder
partnership.
The decision to designate an area must be
published in a local newspaper or by notices in the local area, the
designation can then last for up to six months. The designated area
must be clearly defined, usually by a description of the streets or
roads bordering the area.
Within designated areas the police and
community support officers (CSO) have the power to:
- disperse groups where the relevant officer has reasonable
grounds for believing that their presence or behaviour has
resulted, or is likely to result, in a member of the public from
being harassed intimidated, alarmed or distressed. Individuals can
be directed to leave the locality and may be excluded from the area
for up to 24 hours.
- a refusal to follow the officer's directions to disperse is a
summary offence. The penalty on conviction for this offence is a
fine not exceeding level 4 or a maximum of three months'
imprisonment (for adults).
What is the safer neighbourhood teams (SNTs) and what do they
do?
Dedicated teams of police officers and police
community support officers based on each ward in Tower Hamlets will
provide additional policing resources to the borough of Tower
Hamlets and therefore provide additional reassurance to those who
live, work or socialise in Tower Hamlets.
Safer neighbourhood teams will each consist of
a minimum of one police sergeant, two police constables and three
police community support officers.
When and who refers customers to the safer neighbourhood
team?
Customers should only be referred if they want
to get involved or wish to know more about the services provided by
SNTs in their local area. The CSS operations team will deal with
long-term disputes between neighbours while the SNT will deal with
the more day to day issues such as abandoned vehicles.
What will the safer neighbourhood team do about the
problem?
The team, with the community and partner agencies, tackles
locally identified issues such as quality of life problems like
graffiti, abandoned cars, noisy neighbours, drunks and
vandalism. Each team is dedicated solely to the needs of one
specific neighbourhood.