antisocial behaviour

• Noise nuisance (for example, loud music)
• Vehicle nuisance (for example, off-road bikes)
• Fly tipping
• Animal nuisance (for example, allowing dogs to stray or foul)
• Using or dealing drugs
• Harassment
• Verbal abuse
• Violence or threats of violence
• Damaging or threatening to damage property
• Drunken or rowdy behaviour
• Criminal activity.

• Abusive or insulting written or verbal behaviour
• Violence and threats of violence
• Vandalism to property or attempted arson
• Repeated and unfounded complaints against a person or group
• Activities intended to deter a person from occupying a particular property
• Abusive telephone calls or uninvited visits to someone’s home
• Placing excrement, rubbish, or offensive materials near or in the victim’s home.

A hate crime is defined as:

‘Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person’s disability or perceived disability, race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity’.

believe housing works closely with the police and other agencies to monitor the types of incidents reported and where they have taken place. This helps us to take appropriate action on our estates. If you see a hate crime being committed, call it out by reporting it to the police and to us. We’ll work together to make our communities safer places in which to live.

The following agencies can provide help and support:

• Stop Hate UK: 0800 138 1625 or website

If you or someone you know has been subjected to domestic abuse, please visit our domestic abuse page where you can find support and advice. We are here to listen and help, and we can talk you through the options available and offer access to appropriate services, support agencies, and security measures.

If you or your family feel threatened, or your home or property has been damaged, report this to the police on 999 if it’s an emergency, or by calling 101.  

Once you are safe, if you are reporting ASB involving a believe housing tenant, or someone living in, or visiting, a believe housing property, you should report that directly to believe housing using this form below or ring 0300 1311 999.

In cases of noise nuisance, you can also report using the Noise App below.

If the person or people you are reporting live in an owner-occupied or privately rented property, you should report that to the appropriate local authority:

• Durham County Council
• Sunderland City Council
• Stockton Borough Council

If the person or people you are reporting live in a property rented from another housing association, you should contact that housing association directly.

• We may consider a referral to an independent mediation service.
• We may issue a verbal or written tenancy warning.
• We may consider the use of an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC).
• In serious cases, we may consider serving a Notice of Seeking Possession or taking legal action to bring a tenancy to an end, or we may seek an injunction.

Each case is treated on its merits and enforcement action will not always be appropriate.

The Community Trigger gives victims the ability to demand action, starting with a review of their case, where the locally defined threshold is met.

In County Durham, the threshold is as follows:

When you have reported three separate incidents relating to the same problem in the past six months to the council, police, or your landlord, but the problem persists because of no or inadequate response from agencies and you feel ignored by agencies;

OR

You reported one incident of crime motivated by hate (due to race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity, age, sex, marriage/civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity) in the last six months. The problem still persists because of no or inadequate response from agencies and you feel ignored by agencies;

OR

At least five people have made reports about the same problem in the past six months to the council, police, or your landlord. The problem persists because of no or inadequate response from agencies and the victim feels ignored by agencies.

To action the Community Trigger, click on the following area depending on where you live:

• Durham 
• Sunderland
• Stockton

Anyone can use the Community Trigger if their concern is about antisocial behaviour or a hate incident/crime and meets the criteria.

Community Trigger may not be appropriate in every circumstance. For example, if you have reported antisocial behaviour and received a service, but the problems and the investigation are ongoing, you should contact the agency you are working with to tell them what is happening.

If you have reported antisocial behaviour and received a service but are unhappy with that service or the action taken, you should submit a complaint under that agency’s complaints procedures.