Anti Social Behaviour Charter
We are here to help you and to make your neighbourhood a safer place to live, work and visit
If you are a victim or witness of anti-social behaviour, you do not need to deal with it alone.
This could mean us speaking to you regularly or making sure other agencies are aware of your needs. If the report goes to court we will help you every step of the way, explaining fully and being honest about what you can expect. This could include taking you and showing you around the court building and answering any questions you may have. Alternatively you may wish to contact Kent Victim Support on 0808 168 9276.
Our commitment to you…
We are committed to reducing anti-social behaviour in your area and making it a safer place to live, work and visit.
You have a right to live a life where you feel safe to walk about your community and live your life as you choose. Sometimes the inconsiderate behaviour of others can stop this from happening and we refer to this behaviour as ‘anti-social behaviour’.
If you are the victim of this behaviour, you have a right to report what is happening and we have a duty to take steps to stop it.
We have written this charter to set out clear information about what anti-social behaviour is and what you can expect Dover District Council and Kent Police to do if you make a report about anti-social behaviour.
What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour can mean different things to different people. It’s important to define what anti-social behaviour is so that those suffering from it and those people responsible for committing it are clear about what we mean.
Anti-social behaviour is defined as 'conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person, conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person's occupation of residential premises, or conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person. (Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014)
This can include, but is not restricted to:
- Street drinking, being drunk or rowdy in public
- Drug related activity
- ASB caused using vehicles
- Bonfires
- Graffiti
- Fly-posting
- Abandoned vehicles
- Neighbour problems
- Noise
- Dog Fouling
- Fly tipping
Who deals with anti-social behaviour?
As anti-social behaviour comes in many shapes and sizes, Dover District Council and Kent Police work together with a wide range of organisations to take the right action.
This may include working with local housing associations, the NHS or Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
What should you do about anti-social behaviour?
Ideally, if you feel able and safe to, it’s worth talking face to face with the people you are having problems with.
You should remain calm and polite and explain why their behaviour is upsetting you. Try not to get angry or personal as this could make your relationship with them and their behaviour even worse.
If you feel unsafe or threatened by their behaviour, you should avoid any confrontation with them and get in contact with us.
In confidence – you can trust us
All reports are kept in the strictest of confidence and we will not reveal any of your details without your permission.
In an emergency
- If you are in immediate danger, please telephone 999, we are not an emergency service.
We will do everything we can within our power to try to achieve a positive result for you
Remember
We can only take action if we know what the problems are. You need to give as much information about the anti-social behaviour as possible, including descriptions of the person(s), exact locations, times of day, dates and any other details that may help.
Without your help we cannot take a stand against antisocial behaviour.
We recognise that this is not easy for many people and we will do all we can to support you in tackling the issues that matter to you.
So please don’t ignore it, report it!
What happens once you have made the report to us?
We will:
- Take every report of anti-social behaviour seriously and record your complaint
- Contact you within one working day of receipt of your complaint
- Assess the risks to decide how best we can support you
- If necessary, meet with you in person to gather further information
- Provide you with a diary (and guidance for its completion) if relevant, to record more details
- Always request your permission to reveal your details to our partners (such as another department or your Police Community Support Officer)
- Work alongside other partners to share information and tackle issues
- Keep you informed on our course of action along every step of the way
- Provide you with one single point of contact
- Ensure your needs as a victim are understood and supported
- Investigate fully every case we take on and gather as much information as is available
- Consider all the tools and powers available to us
- Continue to monitor your situation and support your needs even after our investigation has ended
- Explain our findings when we finish investigating
- Monitor your satisfaction with the way we have dealt with your case
What else can you do?
- Do keep a note of everything that is happening (times, dates, places, descriptions).
- Do keep alert to what is going on around you; speak to your neighbours and make a stand together if possible.
- Avoid putting yourself in danger
Remember!
We can only act on the evidence and information we receive.
Feel free to call with any questions, concerns or new information
- Dover District Council anti-social behaviour team 01304 872220, email csu@dover.gov.uk
- If you need immediate police assistance always dial 999
- In a police non-emergency please call 101
- To make an anonymous call contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111