Reported ASB Several Times and Nothing Changed? You May Be Able to Request a Community Trigger

Residents dealing with repeated anti-social behaviour may not realise that there is a formal process available when they believe agencies have failed to respond adequately.

In Mansfield, this process is called a Community Trigger, also known as an Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review. It gives people affected by ASB the right to ask for the response to their reports to be formally reviewed. (Mansfield District Council)

What is a Community Trigger?

A Community Trigger is designed for situations where anti-social behaviour has already been reported, but the person affected believes that the concerns have not been properly dealt with or acted upon.

It is not simply another ASB report.

Instead, it asks the relevant agencies to look again at how the case has been handled, what action has already been taken and whether additional action should now be considered. (Mansfield District Council)

Who can request one?

According to Mansfield District Council, the published criteria include repeated complaints about anti-social behaviour, a belief that no action or insufficient action has been taken, and the applicant being an individual, business or community group.

The Council's Community Trigger page currently states that the threshold includes three complaints relating to anti-social behaviour within the relevant six-month period, with the most recent complaint made within the last month. (Mansfield District Council)

Because different council pages describe the threshold slightly differently, residents considering an application should check the current Community Trigger guidance and application form before applying. (Mansfield District Council)

What happens if the threshold is met?

If the application meets the required threshold, an Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review takes place.

Depending on the case, this may involve agencies such as:

• Police

• Housing

• Environmental Health

• Social Care

• Health providers

The review considers the concerns raised, looks at action already taken and can make recommendations for further action aimed at resolving the problem. (Mansfield District Council)

Mansfield District Council states that it should acknowledge a completed Community Trigger request within five working days and then determine whether the threshold has been met. (Mansfield District Council)

What should you prepare?

If you are considering requesting a Community Trigger, it may help to organise:

• Dates of previous ASB incidents

• Dates when incidents were reported

• Police, council or housing reference numbers

• Copies of important responses

• A short timeline of what has happened

• What action agencies have already taken

• Why you believe the response has been insufficient

• Whether the ASB is continuing

Keeping this information organised can make it much easier to explain why you believe a formal review is needed.

A Community Trigger is not the same as a complaint

It is important to understand the difference.

A Community Trigger reviews how agencies have responded to repeated ASB reports.

A complaint about the conduct of a particular officer, department or service should normally continue through that organisation's own complaints procedure. Mansfield District Council specifically states that the Community Trigger does not replace the complaints process. (Mansfield District Council)

What if you disagree with the outcome?

Mansfield District Council states that if someone is dissatisfied with the outcome of the Community Trigger process, they can appeal to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire. (Mansfield District Council)

Why this matters

People experiencing persistent ASB can sometimes find themselves repeatedly reporting individual incidents without feeling that anyone is looking at the whole pattern.

The Community Trigger exists specifically to provide a mechanism for reviewing the overall response where repeated reports have not resulted in an adequate resolution.

Dignity Alliance believes residents should know that this option exists.

If you have repeatedly reported anti-social behaviour and feel that the response has been insufficient, it may be worth checking whether you meet the criteria for an ASB Case Review.

Dignity Alliance is a community-led support group and does not provide legal advice. We can, however, help residents understand procedures, organise information and identify possible next steps.