This page gives information on how we deal with complaints about Anti-Social Behaviour.

 

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We believe that everyone has the right to enjoy their home free from excessive nuisance or anti-social behaviour.

 

What is anti-social behaviour?

 

We use the definition from The Crime and Disorder Act 1998.  It defines anti-social behaviour as:

 

"Behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household".

 

Examples of anti-social behaviour

 

The types of complaints we have received include,  verbal abuse,  noise nuisance,  violent or threatening behaviour, carrying on a business from home (for example car repairs) and racial and sexual harassment.

 

How can I report an incident?

 

You can complain in writing,  in person,   by phone at our offices,  or someone can complain on your behalf.  We will investigate all compaints we receive.

 

Who will deal with my complaint?

 

It will be dealt with by your housing officer.

 

What will happen if I make a complaint?

 

If your complaint is about a serious incident we will arrange to talk to you about it within 24 hours.  Otherwise, we will arrange to talk to you about your complaint within five working days.

 

You can choose where we talk to you.  It can be at your home, at our office or over the phone.  Everything we talk about will be totally confidential and will not be discussed with anyone else unless you say we can.

 

What happens next?

 

What happens next depends on what your complaint is about and what you want to happen.

 

We can: 

1. Visit or write to the person you are complaining about.
2. Visit other neighbours to ask for their views.
3. Ask you and your neighbours to keep a written record of problems.
4. Gather other evidence.
5. Involve other agencies (for example: environmental health or the police).
6. Take no further action (if there is not enough evidence or you do not want us to take any further action at this stage).

Your housing officer will agree a plan of action with you.  We will keep you informed of the progress made and any decisions we take.  We will always do our best to solve your complaint in a friendly way that does not cause further problems.

 

What kind of action can we take?

 

There are a number of steps we can take, but what we do depends on how bad the anti-social behaviour is and how much evidence we have.

 

Examples of what we can do inlclude: 

1. We can give the person carrying out the anti-social behaviour an informal warning.
2. We can interview the person carrying out the anti-social behaviour and give them a formal warning for breaking their tenancy agreement.
3. We can offer mediation services to help you and other people involved come to an agreement.
4. We can use an acceptable behaviour contract or a parenting order.
5. We can consider legal remedies such as injunctions, anti-social behaviour orders or demotion orders.
6. In more serious cases we will tackle problems jointly with our partner agencies such as the police.
7. Consider taking action to evict the person who is carrying out the anti-social behaviour.  Eviction is always a last resort.

What we can not do:

1. Get involved in personal disputes unless the behaviour breaks tenancy conditions.
2. Take legal action on the basis of anonymous complaints.  However, we will investigate anonymous complaints and take action to back them up.

What is expected of you?

 

To help us build a case and deal with your complaint, you will be expected to:

1. Keep in regular contact with us, and tell us when new incidents take place.
2. Sign a statement which sets out your complaint.
3. Keep a diary record of further incidents.  This is important if future legal action has to be taken as it may be essential evidence.  If legal proceedings have to be taken you may have to make a statement and in some circumstances go to the court hearing.

Responsibility

 

Tacking anti-social behaviour is not the sole responsibility of one organisation or one individual.  To successfully tackle this problem everyone must work together.  This means agencies like the police and Oadby and Wigston Borough Council must work togther.  We also need victims and witnesses to work with us.

 

If you would like further information or you would like to make a complaint please contact the Housing Section on Leicester (0116) 2888961.              

Click here to view our anti-social behaviour policy|

 

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