Anti-Social Behaviour and hate incidents
What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of unacceptable activity which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to other people, including behaviour which puts people in fear of crime.
Examples of anti-social behaviour include:
- Nuisance, noisy, rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour.
- Verbal abuse, harassment, intimidation or threatening behaviour.
- Drug or substance misuse.
- Alcohol related nuisance.
- Vandalism and damage to property.
- Misuse of communal areas, public space or loitering.
- Environmental damage including littering, dumping of rubbish and fly tipping.
- Fireworks misuse.
- Vehicle nuisance (nuisance caused in and around stationary vehicles).
Anti-social behaviour policy
We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhoods we manage. We have a range of tools and powers that we can use against those who cause anti-social behaviour.
We will investigate all reports of anti-social behaviour and work with our partners to resolve the problem. You have the right to live in your home without fear of intimidation, nuisance or harassment.
If you, members of your household, or visitors to your property are acting in an anti-social way then you are breaching of the terms of your tenancy or lease. Persistent acts of anti-social behaviour will lead to enforcement action being taken against you by the Council and/or police. More serious incidences could result in an injunction, or possession of your home.
How to report anti-social behaviour
If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour or are worried about nuisance activity where you live:
- Report online
- Phone: 020 7364 2332 (24hrs)
- ‘Find it Fix it – Tower Hamlets’ App which allows you to report anti-social behaviour. The App can be used to log reports through sending images that will allow the council to respond appropriately.
- Report ASB in person by visiting the Town Hall or our Idea Stores during opening hours.
In a non-emergency, call the police on 101 to report crime. In an emergency always call 999.
The police can help with complaints about:
- Hate Crime
- Drug related offences
- Criminal damage- Vandalism, graffiti etc
- Violent offences
- Road traffic offences such as speeding, dangerous driving
How to report anonymously
If you wish to report anti-social behaviour but you do not want to be identified then please report online.
You will be directed to an anonymous reporting form on the council's website. These completed forms will be sent directly to our ASB team to record and investigate.
To report crime anonymously, you can also contact Crimestoppers on:
You do not have to give your name, and everything you say will be confidential.
What we will do
When you report anti-social behaviour to us, we will assess the nature of the problem before deciding the most appropriate action to take.
We will:
- Assign a case worker who will risk assess each case
- Contact you within 1 working day for cases which are assessed to be high priority
- Contact you within 5 working days for cases which are not assessed to be high priority
- Review and assess the details of the incident and assign the case to a relevant officer
- Discuss the next steps, including the help and support available to you
- Agree with you how and when we will update you throughout the investigation
- Be open and honest about what we can do
- Be realistic about the likely outcomes of any action we take – particularly legal action
- Analyse the trends in ASB reports on council estates and deploy our Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers (THEOs) or Tower Hamlets Task Force (police).
All information provided to us is handled with the strictest of confidence.
What you must do
If you are experiencing neighbour nuisance, we will ask you to maintain a diary of events with key information such as; Time, Date, Location and Description of Disturbances. The officer assigned to your case will discuss the details of this diary sheet with you and agree the next steps.
Download the diary sheet.
You should report all instances of anti-social behaviour you experience or witness in your neighbourhood. Even if there is not enough evidence to act against the perpetrator(s), your report will be recorded and may help substantiate future cases, as well as aiding the ASB team in directing resources effectively.
If you have reported an ongoing problem of ASB, but do not believe it has been dealt with, you can ask the Community Safety Partnership to review your complaints (including incidents of hate) under the ASB Case Review process.
The Community Trigger should only be used if no action has been taken as a result of repeat reporting to the council or police. It cannot be used to report general acts of crime.
Keeping in touch with you
We will keep you informed of how your case is progressing. Just tell us how and when you would like us to update you.
You can do a number of things to help tackle anti-social behaviour, whether you experience it yourself or you are concerned about anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood.
If you have experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour and you are not sure what to do, please talk to us first.
Talk to your neighbour
Before making a complaint or getting others involved, try to discuss the problem with your neighbour. Keep calm. Explain the problem clearly and stick to the facts. People are often unaware that they or someone in their household is causing a nuisance. If you’re worried about approaching them, write a letter explaining the problem. Again be clear and stick to the facts.
If the problem affects other neighbours, it may help to involve them as well. It can be easier to settle a dispute if the complaint comes from a number of people.
You could use a mediation service if talking to your neighbour doesn’t work. Ask us for more information about this option.
If you do not think it is safe, or if you feel uncomfortable approaching your neighbour – please talk to us first.
If you’ve been a victim of anti-social behaviour, you may get free help and advice from:
Victim support
Victim Support is an independent charity that offers:
- emotional support, e.g. coping with the after-effects of anti-social behaviour
- practical help - this can be as simple as providing help with filling out forms or getting broken doors and windows fixed
- advice on dealing with the police, if they need to be involved
- information and support if you go to court as a witness
Mediation
Mediation is an effective way of resolving disputes without the need to go to court. It involves an independent third party - a mediator - who helps both sides come to an agreement.
Repairs to your home
If you need repairs to your home, home security improvements, or rehousing because of anti-social behaviour, we may be able to help. If damage has occurred due to crime, you will need to give us the police crime number.
Family and friends
It may be helpful to get support from your family and friends too. They can listen, provide emotional and practical support and give you feedback.
Talk to us to find out more about these and other options.
We work in partnership with other organisations to help tackle anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood. Our main partners are:
Reporting a Hate Crime
We have a dedicated hate crime page.
Contact the Police to report a hate crime, in an emergency you should always call 999
- If it is not an emergency call 101
- If you have a hearing or speech impairment use the MPS Text Phone Service:
- For emergencies text 18000 to 999
- For non-emergencies text 18001 to 101
What is a hate crime?
Hate crime is any criminal offence where anyone believes the victim has been targeted because of their:
- disability
- race or ethnic identity
- religion/belief
- gender or gender identity
- sexual orientation
- age
- immigration status or nationality
- or any other actual or perceived difference.
Hate crime behaviours can include
- physical attacks – pushing and shoving to serious assaults
- verbal abuse – using derogatory or insulting words
- threatening behaviour, bullying and intimidation
- damage to property – including offensive graffiti
- harassment
- malicious communications – threatening or offensive mail, texts or emails
- damage to property and violence
- hate can also be directed at whole communities – for example, vandalism of places of worship, or offensive graffiti in public places.
What is a hate incident?
Hate incidents are incidents that do not constitute a criminal offence but cause alarm, distress or harassment where anyone believes the victim has been targeted because of their race, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender or gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation or any other actual or perceived difference.
We work closely with the council, the police and other agencies to prevent all forms of hate crime, take action against offenders and support and protect victims. We encourage anyone who is the victim of, or witness to, hate crime to report it immediately.
This is vital to ensure that offenders are brought to justice – we will not tolerate hate crime.