ASB Case Reviews

ASB Case Reviews are multi-agency reviews of persistent antisocial behaviour.

Purpose of ASB Case Reviews

The ASB Case Review process was previously known as the ‘Community Trigger’. It gives victims who have persistently reported problems of antisocial behaviour the right to request a review of their case, if they believe their reports have not been properly addressed.

In this context, ASB refers to behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress to any member or members of the public.

If a case meets the locally determined threshold then the relevant bodies have a statutory duty to undertake a review.

Who reviews cases

The groups who consider cases that meet the threshold for review are known as relevant bodies.

They include:

• The London borough council for the area
• The Police force covering the area
• The relevant clinical commissioning group in England
• All private registered providers of social housing who are co-opted in to the local agreement

Threshold for review

The ASB Case Review threshold is met when an application is made and three or more separate qualifying complaints of antisocial behaviour have been made within the last six months.

It can also be met when fewer than three qualifying complaints have been made within the last six months, but the Community Safety Service, on behalf of the relevant bodies, considers no effective action has been taken to tackle the antisocial behaviour. The criteria used are:

• The persistence of the antisocial behaviour complained about
• The harm caused, or the potential for harm to be caused, by the antisocial behaviour
• The adequacy of the response to the antisocial behaviour

Where a person makes two or more complaints about antisocial behaviour, they must concern separate instances of the antisocial behaviour on different dates. Both the following criteria will need to apply:

• The antisocial behaviour is of a persistent or continuing nature, and
• The previous response(s) of the relevant bodies to the complainant(s) are not reasonable in all the circumstances of the case, in the opinion of the Community Safety service

Where the threshold is not met, the application may be considered in further instances, when:

• The reported problems have not been acknowledged, i.e. the victim has not been contacted to advise what action would be taken
• The reported problems have not been appropriately investigated
• The victim’s vulnerability and/or the potential for harm has not properly been considered when the service has taken action or responded to the complainant.
• Information has not been shared between the relevant bodies so the picture in its entirety has not been considered when the service has taken action or responded to the complainant

When an application will not be considered

Applications for ASB Case Reviews will not be considered if they are made anonymously, or if they are considered by the Community Safety Manager to be frivolous and/or vexatious.

The ASB Case Review process cannot be used to report general acts of crime or hate crime and does not replace the formal complaints procedures of individual organisations.

Make an application

When completing the application form, you will be asked to give details of:

• Each time you have complained
• Who was involved (name, organisation and/or incident reference number)
• The incident(s) of antisocial behaviour

Please note that even after you submit your application, you still need to report any further incidents of anti-social behaviour to the relevant agencies (Metropolitan Police on 101/999 or your housing provider/ estate manager).

Apply now

If you need help to complete this form, contact the Community Safety service.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome

You can make representations, in writing, to the Community Safety service if:

• You want to appeal a decision that your case doesn't meet the threshold
• You are dissatisfied by the way in which the relevant bodies have dealt with your application or dealt with your review

A manager from the Community Safety service will review your message and will have sole discretion to decide what action should be taken.

Review timeline

This is the process followed once a request for an ASB Case Review is received by the Community Safety service:

1. An acknowledgement letter is sent within five working days of receiving the application. Consent is needed to send it to a third party
2. Relevant agencies/departments are informed of the ASB Case Review application and asked to provide all relevant information within 14 working days of the date the information was requested. In some cases, additional information may also be sought from the applicant. This should be provided within seven working days from the date of the request
3. The application is considered and a decision is made as to whether it meets the threshold. We will aim to inform the applicant of the outcome within 28 days of receipt of the application
4. If the threshold is met, an ASB Case Review will be held. If the threshold is not met, an email or letter will be sent, signposting to other agencies for potential further contact if appropriate

Panel meeting process

When the decision is made to carry out an ASB Case Review, the Community Safety Manager will identify an appropriate panel chair with the supporting officer.

A panel meeting comprising representatives of the relevant bodies will be convened within 28 working days of receipt of the application. A summary report will be circulated to panel members two working days before the meeting.

The review panel will meet to consider the application, and will agree outcomes and recommendations. 

As the victim, you will be invited to present at the panel unless exceptional circumstances prevent this and/or the chair decides it is inappropriate. If the chair decides not to invite you they will write to you two working days before the panel hearing.

The panel chair will send a report to you and the relevant bodies within seven working days of the meeting.

Previous applications

View a summary of all applications since 2020.

Applications by year (as of 13 September 2023)

Year	Applications
2023/24	5 applications for ASB Case Review received: 3 cases did not meet the threshold for review No cases met the threshold for review and recommendations made 2 cases are pending threshold decision
2022/23	12 applications for ASB Case Review received: 9 cases did not meet the threshold for review 3 cases met the threshold for review and recommendations made
2021/22	11 applications for ASB Case Review received: 7 cases did not meet the threshold for review 4 cases met the threshold for review with recommendations made
2020/21	11 applications for ASB Case Review received: 6 cases did not meet the threshold for review 5 cases met the threshold for review with recommendations made
2019/20	No applications for ASB Case Review received.