Salvation Army Housing Association (SAHA) defines anti social behaviour (ASB) as:

  "Behaviour that unreasonably interferes with other people's rights to the use and enjoyment of their home, community and environment" 

Our residents describe ASB as fights and arguments in the street, dog fouling or excessive barking, overgrown and untidy gardens, dumped rubbish, lack of care for your home, theft and other crimes, drug and alcohol abuse and drug dealing, problems with car parking, graffiti, abusive or threatening behaviour and language, loud or frequent noise disturbance and bad or thoughtless parking.

SAHA's immediate aim is to prevent ASB taking place.  We have clear clauses in our occupancy agreements prohibiting certain behaviour and explaining customer responsibilities, plus we pro-actively provide information to our customers on ASB and how we aim to tackle it.  We are also sensitive to problems of ASB when letting our properties and will, where possible, improve existing developments to reduce the potential for crime and ASB.

Where ASB does take place we have a 'zero tolerance' approach to it.  In addition to our work with the victim and the perpetrator, for example face to face meetings / mediation, we will also involve other agencies if required.  This can include the police, local authorities and social services, to ensure that the full ranges of criminal and civil remedies are used to tackle and prevent incidents in and around our properties. Where required we procure evidence, for example through diary records and statements, and record such information on the appropriate templates required by the courts, in the event of legal action against the perpetrators being required.

In a recent audit of our ASB service there were a number of recommendations made for the service and these are being implemented to enhance the overall service we provide.  Examples include the introduction of new key performance indicator information to be produced monthly to assist the monitoring of ASB within SAHA; the introduction of an agreed signed action plan for each ASB case; standard letters in response to each stage of a case to ensure a consistent approach across SAHA's diverse range of accommodation; and the integration of details of the service complaints procedure into the process to ensure ASB complainants can express dissatisfaction with the service if they wish to do so.

A further significant area where SAHA will be improving in 2010 is through the introduction of appropriate software, specific for managing ASB cases, as part of the new IT system for SAHA. The Association is working closely with the new system provider, Civica, to address ASB case management and this will help the Association improve further performance and delivery of ASB cases.