Anti-social behaviour and hate crime
We want you to feel safe and secure in your home
Read about our approach to anti-social behaviour (ASB) and hate crime.
If you or another member of your household is experiencing ASB or hate crime tell us.
All conversations are in strict confidence.
Our approach to ASB, hate crime and race crime
If you are experiencing ASB, hate crime or race crime we will support you, working in confidence to help you to feel safe and secure in your home.
Your Housing Officer or our specialist Anti-Social Behaviour team will investigate your complaint and contact those involved. If the problem continues, we may ask you to keep a record of what happens. We will agree a plan of action with you.
We can also give you advice and practical support. The could be arranging additional security for your house or involving specialist agencies agencies such as Resolve West and Victim Support.
We work with Safe Partnership to provide extra locks and other security measures in homes where someone is suffering domestic violence.
Hate crime and racist incidents: We work with SARI (Support Against Racist Incidents) a specialist charity that offers independent support services for anyone reporting or experience hate crime or hate and racist incidents. This is a free service.
For serious incidents of ASB, racist incidents or hate crime, we will take legal action where agreed if other measures fail. We will always ask you before we take any action.
We work closely with the local Police and other agencies to address reports and sustain our neighbourhoods.
Please remember that obligations are in place for all who sign the tenancy agreement to be personally responsible for their actions and that of their household, and/or visitors to not cause a nuisance or harassment to others in the home or nearby locality of the home.
Are you experiencing anti-social behaviour?
What is anti-social behaviour?
ASB covers a variety of behaviours. It is persistent, ongoing and preventable.
Some behaviours may be annoying, but they may not be classed as anti-social. See the lists below, which outline behaviours that are classed as ASB and behaviours that are not.
If you are not sure if you are experiencing ASB or if it is hate crime please get in touch. We can discuss this with you.
Anti-social behaviour
- excessive noise
- rowdy or threatening behaviour
- intimidation and harassment
- violence against people or property
- criminal damage
- vandalism or graffiti
- drug dealing
- hate behaviours targeted at people who are perceived as different on grounds of race, colour, sexuality, or disability.
- dog fouling
Behaviours not classified as anti-social behaviour
- noise from children playing
- personal differences
- family disputes
- overgrown gardens
- noises caused by everyday living, such as flushing the toilet and closing doors
If you're experiencing anti-social behaviour or hate crime, we will support you
Advice, support and report
If you are experiencing a problem with ASB here is some useful information and how to report it. There are also links to further support.
- Noise nuisance
For some reports of ASB, such as excessive noise, we may require evidence. The noise app which you can use via your smartphone can record the sound and forward it through to us. The app is free to download from google play or the apple store.
- Actual or threatened violence and damage
If the problem involves someone being violent or threatening you with violence, damaging or threatening to damage your property contact the police immediately.
If you are in immediate danger or at risk of being harmed, please call 999 and ask for the police.
Ask the police for a crime reference number and contact us as soon as you can. This will help us with our investigations.
- Hate crime and race crime
These are crimes that typically involve violence, which is motivated by prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or other grounds
Reporting racist incidents and hate crime the first step to stopping it
We take any allegations of race crime and hate crime seriously and are here to support you.
If you are a victim of a hate crime, contact the police immediately and let your housing officer know as soon as possible.
We recommend that all acts of racial or religious harassment are also reported to SARI (Support Against Racist Incidents.) SARI can offer support and will work with us to support you.
Call the police on 999 if you are in immediate danger or at risk of being harmed.
- Legal action we can take
We will always work with residents to resolve anti-social behaviour issues without the need for legal action. However, by working with partners such as the police, we will use legal action if other interventions have not been successful. Eviction is only used as a last resort.
Legal action we can take to tackle anti-social behaviour:
- Injunction – an official order given by a court of law to stop someone doing something – for example to tackle noise nuisance caused by late night parties.
- Possession order – if preventative measures such as verbal and written warnings, support referrals, acceptable behaviour contracts and injunctions have not been successful we can apply for a possession order to remove the tenant from the property.
- REPORT anti-social behaviour, hate crime or racist incident
Reporting anti-social behaviour and hate crime is the first step to stopping it.
You can report it 24 hours a day below, or by emailing us at info@brighterplaces.co.uk or by using the noise app.
If a crime is being committed you should call 999 for the police or report non-urgent matters to 101
How you can report a hate crime, racist incident or anti-social behaviour:
- Complete the form below
- Call us on 0117 942 4600. You will be put in contact with a housing officer who can offer advice and refer you to our ASB team who are specialists in managing hate crimes and racist incidents
- Email us on info@brighterplaces.co.uk
- Come to our office at Eden House and talk to the duty officer. You can also arrange to meet one of our officers at Eden House if you prefer.
- We can arrange a home visit with you
- Or we can meet you at another venue suitable for you and our officers
- You can report on your own if you prefer. Or you can ask a family member or support agency to come with you.
- In an emergency, please always dial 999 for the police.
- Our anti-social behaviour and hate crime policy