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'Statistics for ASB regarding private residents in last 12 months'.
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Wolverhampton City Council OPEN REPORT
Scrutiny Board
Date 16/12/08
Originating Service Group(s) NEIGHBOURHOODS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
COUNCILLOR J YARDLEY
Contact Officer(s) Angela Mawdsley
Co-ordinator - Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
Telephone Number(s) 552967
Title/Subject Matter Role and RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE City Council's Anti-Social BehavioUr Unit
Purpose of report
1.2 Following request by the Scrutiny Board on 18 November 2008, this report ;
a) Advises Members on the overall responsibilities of the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (ASBU)
b) Informs Members about how the ASBU is managed and,
c) Updates Members on actions taken by the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (ASBU) to tackle anti-social behaviour in the private housing sector across the city.
2.0 Role and Structure of the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
All local authorities have a statutory duty to investigate and take action to tackle anti-social behaviour. At Wolverhampton City Council, this duty is performed by the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit.
As well as developing strategy and setting policy and procedure in relation to anti-social behaviour, the primary role of the ASBU is investigating complaints of anti-social behaviour where the perpetrator is an owner occupier or a tenant of a private landlords. This accounts for approximately 68% of the population in Wolverhampton.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Unit has six members of staff. These are a Anti-Social Behaviour Unit Co-ordinator, three Fieldworkers (two full-time and one part-time), an Acceptable Behaviour Contract Officer and an Administrator.
Wolverhampton Homes and Housing Associations are responsible for investigating complaints of anti-social behaviour where the perpetrator is a local authority or Housing Association tenant. There is a protocol agreed by ASBU and Wolverhampton Homes which governs who deals with what and how complaints are referred between the two teams.
3.0 `Enough' - The Anti-Social Behaviour Reporting Line
3.1 This service was established by the ASBU, in consultation with partners, in July 2007. The service delivery of the line is managed by City Direct and is paid for by the ASBU budget.
3.2 This reporting line enables all residents, regardless of tenure, to report anti-social behaviour. The operator is provided with a series of business rules which will identify the approriate agency or department that the enquiry should be sent to for action. The majority of complaints for the ASBU come via this reporting line. However complaints are also received directly from residents, via councillors and MP's and as referrals from other departments. Cases are also picked up through the local tasking meeting process - ASBU Officers attend all the local tasking meetings.
4.0 Investigation of Anti-Social Behaviour Complaints by ASBU
Fieldworkers are responsible for investigating complaints of anti-social behaviour that are made to the ASBU. After making a complaint, the complainant is usually visited at their home address by a Fieldworker who will then investigate the complaint accordingly.
The investigation may involve liaising with partners, letter drops in the affected area, attending residents meetings and meeting with the alleged perpetrators to discuss the anti-social behaviour. If there is evidence of anti-social behaviour then the Fieldworker will attempt to resolve the problems without the need for legal intervention. However legal intervention will be used if appropriate and necessary.
Between 01/01/2007 and 31/12/2007, the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit investigated 357 complaints of anti-social behaviour.
Between 01/01/2008 and 15/10/2008, the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit investigated 354 complaints of anti-social behaviour. This is based on year to date statistics so there will be a year on year increase in relation to the number of complaints that the ASBU have investigated.
5.0 Examples of Interventions available to the Unit (non legal interventions)
5.1 As part of the Unit's information recording and monitoring procedure, all agencies who use ABC's provide details to the ASB Unit.
In 2007, there was a total of 54 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts signed
19 were led by Wolverhampton Homes
14 were led by the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
7 were jointly led by Wolverhampton Homes and the ASB Unit
4 were jointly led by the ASB Unit and other agencies (such as Housing Associations and
Estate Management Boards)
10 were led by other agencies
In 2008 (to date 20th November), there have been 38 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts signed.
24 were led by Wolverhampton Homes
4 were led by the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
6 were led jointly by ASBU and Wolverhampton Homes
4 were jointly led by the ASBU and other agencies
Based within the ASBU, there is an ABC Officer whose role is to manage the ABC process in relation to young people who are private tenants and owner-occupiers. This main focus of this work is to engage and work closely with young people in an attempt to modify their behaviour. Undoubtedly this also involves working with parents and providing parenting support. If a young person is expected to improve their behaviour then they will often need help in doing so. The ABC Officer works closely with the young person and develops a relationship where there is mutual trust and respect. The Officer also looks at factors such as education and constructive activities which are tailored to the young persons needs. There is clear evidence that this approach works.
The ABC Officer also provides support and assistance to other agencies such as Housing Associations and Wolverhampton Homes in relation to effectively managing the ABC process. The Officer also provides ABC training to these and other Partners such as wardens and police.
6.0 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO's) (Legal Interventions)
6.1 In Wolverhampton, applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders are made by either the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit or Wolverhampton Homes. However all applications have to be authorised by the Co-ordinator of the ASBU and go through the same case conference approach which is managed by the ASBU Co-ordinator.
In 2007, there was a total of 20 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders granted.
11 were applications from the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
9 were applications from Wolverhampton Homes
In 2008 (to date 20th November), there have been a total of 18 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders granted.
14 were applications from the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
4 were applications from Wolverhampton Homes
In addition, the ASBU has 15 pending applications, 9 of which should be in court during December 2008 depending on court availability
ASBO applications from ASBU have dealt with issues such as prostitution, drug use in public places, street drinking, aggressive begging and groups of youths in specific areas causing extreme harassment, alarm and distress to residents.
7.0 Customer Satisfaction
7.1 In January 2008 a customer satisfaction survey was introduced to establish whether the response provided by the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit to complaints of anti-social behaviour is appropriate, timely and effective.
Between 01/01/2008 and 15/10/2008, 41% of customer satisfaction surveys were returned.
When asked how easy it was to make a complaint of anti-social behaviour, 66% of customers found it either very easy or fairly easy.
When asked how quickly they were contacted by an officer following their complaint, 28% said they were contacted within 24 hours, 28% of customers said within 2 working days and 26% of customers said within 5 working days.
When asked if appropriate action was taken to deal with their complaint, 74% answered yes, 15% did not answer this question and 10% said no.
When provided with the statement 'The officer was helpful when dealing with my complaint', 92% of customers agreed and 8% did not answer. No customers disagreed with this statement.
When asked to score their overall satisfaction with the service. 58% of customers scored their overall satisfaction as very satisfied and 24% of scored their overall satisfaction as fairly satisfied. No respondents scored their overall satisfaction as very unsatisfied.
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