Anti-Social Behaviour

 

You should call the emergency 999 service if:

• A serious offence is in progress.
• Someone is in immediate danger or risk of harm. 
• Property is in danger of being damaged.  
• A serious disruption to the public is likely.  

 

You should report a non-emergency by using this form or phoning 101 for:

• Non emergencies include incidents of crime or disorder/anti-social behaviour that have already happened and there is no risk of immediate harm.  
• ASB that is occurring now but is low level and no one is at risk of harm.   
• Examples when to contact Kent Police include:
  • Drug related activity or nuisance
  • Harassment or intimidation
  • Misuse of fireworks
  • Prostitution or indecent behaviour
  • Street drinking or drunk groups in public
  • Vandalism 
  • Vehicle related ASB 

 

For anti-social behaviour relating to temporary or permanent DDC tenancies/tenants, as well as DDC properties, please use this form.   

If you are suffering anti-social behaviour from any tenants of Kent’s many social housing providers, such as:

• Southern Housing
• Sanctuary Housing
• Town & Country Housing
• Moat Housing 
• Oak Housing
• Orbit Housing 

Please refer directly to your allocated housing officer or their webpages, they have a policy on how they deal with anti-social behaviour relating to their tenants and properties.   

 

The Community Safety Unit deals with varied complaints of Antisocial Behaviour on a day to day basis.  Due to the diverse nature of Antisocial Behaviour, we may also refer our residents to other teams and organisations if they are better placed to deal with the issues that are being reported.

Many of the complaints we deal with relate to the following issues

• Derelict Buildings
• Groups/problematic locations
• Misuse of public spaces e.g, unauthorised encampments

For anti-social behaviour that doesn’t relate to a DDC tenant, and doesn’t require a police or immediate authority response, please use our online portal. 

Anti-social behaviour reports can only be accepted via our new online portal. if you are not reporting anti-social behaviour, but wish to communicate with the Community Safety Unit, please email CSU@dover.gov.uk or call 01304 872220.

 

Other cases that Community Safety does not directly investigate, but will pass to other departments include: 

• Noise Nuisance – Noise is unwanted sound and may affect us at home, causing problems for residents and their families.To find out more or report noise, visit this page. (Environmental Protection). 

• Fly Tipping – Fly tipped waste generally consists of large items of rubbish such as general household waste or larger domestic items. To find out more or report fly tipping, visit this page. (Environmental Crime). 

• Littering - Litter is anything that is discarded that defaces a public place. It could be small like a cigarette end or bus ticket, as large as a box, or even hazardous like a syringe. To find out more or report littering, visit this page. (Environmental Crime). 

• Dog fouling - Apart from obvious unpleasant effects of dog fouling, there are potential health risks. To find out more or report dog fouling, visit this page. (Environmental Crime). 

• Street Cleaning - In between inspections, if any area falls below the required standard it will be cleaned to the standards set by the Environment Protection Act 1990. To find out more or report a dirty street, visit this page. (Waste services). 

• Abandoned vehicles – We can only investigate abandoned vehicles on private land/car park with the permission of the landowner. To find out more or report an abandoned vehicle, visit this page. (Waste services).

• Neighbour disputes-If the problems you are experiencing is a dispute between yourself and your neighbour we would also recommend mediation as a possible option …. We suggest that you visit Resolving neighbour disputes: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for an overview of advice we would give you.

For a more comprehensive list of issues you can report to Dover District Council, please visit full list of reporting.

 

• Reducing anti-social behaviour is one of our top priorities.
• We work with other Community Safety Partners such as Kent Police & Kent County Council to address anti-social behaviour.
• The Housing Services section has prepared an Anti-Social Behaviour Policy as a result of a requirement of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 that requires all Social Landlords to publish their policies on Anti-Social Behaviour. This policy forms a strand of Dover District Council's overarching policy to deal effectively with Anti Social Behaviour. 

 

• Advice given - Mutual understanding In cases of very low level antisocial behaviour where there is no threat of violence or much animosity, this can be a good way forward and stop matters getting worse. It enables people to deal with the issues themselves and possibly reach an amicable solution
• Mediation Mediation - Is a form of conflict resolution. It is a service which enables people to restore relations themselves rather than a solution imposed by a third party. The mediator is a neutral person who will explore the reasons behind a conflict, find common ground and helps the people jointly agree ways of dealing with their problems. The council currently utilises …
• Support referral - It may be that after the initial investigation, evidence gathering has shown that one party has caused antisocial behaviour but this is in part due to other underlying issues. A support referral to help the individual address these issues can be beneficial. Depending on the needs of the individual, different types of referrals can be made to a number of agencies. This could include, but is not exclusive to: 

 

Investigating officers will try to take an incremental approach to enforcement wherever possible. However, if the behaviour does not cease, then it may be that enforcement and formal resolution may be necessary.

Other sanctions are available, depending on the situation and type of ASB.

• Verbal warning - A verbal warning, is a warning given in person to the individual, by an officer, advising them to cease from continuing any nuisance behaviour and advising what steps should be taken to achieve this.
• Written warning - A written warning, is similar to a verbal warning in so far as advising the individual to cease from continuing any nuisance behaviour and advising what steps should be taken to achieve this. A written warning also outlines the consequences of further Antisocial Behaviour and more serious sanctions that will be undertaken if breached.
• Enforcement of tenancy conditions -The Community Safety Team works closely with landlords whilst investigating Anti Social Behaviour and landlords may deploy any necessary management functions they have. Officers will give advice and ensure landlords are aware of any nuisance being caused in their property. Landlords may wish to look at further enforcement, such as injunctions or in extreme circumstances, eviction.
• Breach of selective license -There are also additional powers available under Selective Licensing and House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing. If the property is subject to a license, there will also be conditions that stipulate landlords must engage with the council to manage any nuisance behaviour from the property. If this is not something the landlord is willing to do, then enforcement could also be taken in conjunction with the Private Sector Housing Team, against the landlord for a breach of a condition. 

Acceptable Behaviour or ‘Good Neighbour’ Agreement (ABA)

An Acceptable Behaviour Agreement (ABA) is a non legally binding agreement that the perpetrator and any other interested parties, such as the Police, District Council and housing provider can sign up to, and specifies actions or behaviours that should not be continued. It could often be considered where there are a number of different people involved in Antisocial Behaviour, all with differing opinions.

Community Protection Warning (CPW)

A Community Protection Warning, may be issued to advise and warn that any future actions, or failure to do something may result in a Community Protection Notice (see below) being issued.

The warning will set out what it is that is deemed as having a detrimental impact on the wider community, and what steps need to be taken to improve this situation, and / or to stop any Antisocial Behaviour.

this can include positive requirements – such as ‘engage with specified support services’ as well as ‘removal of items’ and ‘desist from contact or communication’ type activities. 

Community Protection Notice (CPN)

A Community Protection Notice (CPN) is a formal written notice issued by officers to the perpetrator informing them of the Anti-Social behaviour, requesting them to stop and advising them of the consequences if they continue. It can also advise of reasonable steps that can be taken to avoid further anti-social behaviour and allows councils to carry out works in default on behalf of the perpetrator.

A breach of a Community Protection Notice is a criminal offence. If breached you could also be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

ASB Injunction (ASBI)

The ASB Injunction (ASBI) is a formal civil sanction replacing civil Antisocial Behaviour Orders: ASBO’s and Housing Act injunctions, and would be considered as a formal response made by application to the courts, after lower level informal approaches have either been attempted or are not applicable.

Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO)

The Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) is a new power which replaces the Antisocial Behaviour Order on conviction and Drink Banning Order on conviction.

A CBO will be issued by the Crown Prosecution Service either at its own initiative or following a request from the Police or the Council on conviction of any criminal offence.

Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)

The Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO’s) are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or disorder in a specific area that is detrimental to a communities quality of life and replaces Gating Orders, Designated Public Places Order (DPPO) and Dog Control Orders.

An order can cover multiple restrictions and would be considered once other interventions have been attempted.

Premises Closure

A premises closure can be applied for by the Police and Council to the courts, to quickly close any premises which are being used, or likely to be used to commit nuisance or disorder.

There are two types of closures, a ‘notice’, which can close premises for up to 48 hours and an ‘order’ which can close premises for 6 months. Both can be used for residential and commercial premises and breaches constitute criminal offences.

Dispersal Power

The dispersal power is a flexible power which the police can use in a range of situations to provide immediate short term respite to a local community. If officers feel there is likely to be ASB, crime or disorder this can be referred onto Police to propose a dispersal order. Orders can be authorised by Police Inspectors for use by Police Officers for up to 48 hours, and this then gives Police Officers additional powers to direct individuals to leave a location for up to 48 hours.