Southampton City Council marks UK’s first ASB Awareness Week

Southampton City Council is highlighting its commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour and making local communities safer by joining the national ASB Awareness Week campaign, which runs 19-25 July 2021.

The campaign is designed to encourage people to make a stand against crime, while shining a light on the experiences of victims and the support available via the councils, partnerships groups and the police.

The week will showcase the efforts of people and organisations who are passionate about public safety. Southampton City Council will use its social media channels to share examples of the great work being done in the city, including:

• How we’re working closely with Hampshire Constabulary to deal with public nuisance and disorder
• Opportunities for residents to learn about the best ways to resolve neighbour disputes
• The tools and resources we’re using to enforce rules around littering and fly tipping
• Reflections on the impact ASB can have on people and communities, and the best ways to report it and access support

The week of action is bringing together people and organisations from across the country to take a stand and work together to make communities safer.

Antisocial behaviour is defined as 'behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person'*. Reports of ASB have reduced (622 in May 2020 compared to 539 in May 2021) across the four police neighbourhood teams in Southampton. However, the council and other partner organisations help to tackle issues and prevent disputes from escalating in order to help keep communities safe.  

One of the ways this is achieved is through the Safe City Partnership Action Group (PAG) which works across the city’s four Police sectors to provide local multi-agency problem solving capacity, with a particular focus on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Spiros Vassiliou, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Heritage comments: “Together with our partners, we want to reduce crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour and high harm behaviour that adversely affects communities, the local environment and local businesses in the city. We know that anti-social behaviour can cause much distress for those who experience it and hope that by raising awareness of what ASB is and the different routes on how to report it, this will be a step in the right direction to help keep communities safer.”

Superintendent Simon Dodds said: “I often hear that there is little point in reporting antisocial behaviour as the police will be far too busy. That is not the case. We recognise such incidents can quickly escalate and often have a profound and lasting impact on those who are victims. Yes policing the city is a busy job, but every report of anti-social behaviour is assessed to identify those instances where we need to prioritise working with partners to keep our communities safe.”

“If you see or experience any anti-social behaviour that may be causing a risk to yourself or someone else, or which you think may be a crime, then please report to the police by calling 101, or report online.

“In an emergency always call 999.”

Organised by community safety specialists Resolve, ASB Awareness Week is being backed by the Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Local Government Association (LGA), National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC).

Rebecca Bryant OBE, chief executive of Resolve, said: “We need to change the way we think about ASB. It is not low-level crime. It devastates the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.

“As the nation begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic and our society and economy celebrates the start of return to normal life, it is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs nationally and locally so that people feel safe in their homes and communities.

“It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community.”

How to report ASB

From aggressive, noisy or abusive behaviour to neighbourhood disturbances involving drugs or animals, antisocial behaviour takes many forms. If you’ve witnessed antisocial behaviour, please report it.

• If you are a council tenant or leaseholder contact your Housing Office or use the online reporting form
• For non-emergency crime and antisocial behaviour call 101, the police non-emergency number or report online
• If you are aged 11-16 and have information about crime, such as a drug dealer or someone who is exploiting young people , or you know someone who is carrying a knife, you can give that information 100% via Fearless
• For emergency situations call the police using 999

 

*Source: (Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 and Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011).