Anti-Social Behaviour Panel

The Anti-Social Behaviour Panel Meeting is chaired by the HBC Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator and includes key agencies such as the Police, Local Authority, Probation Service, Youth Offending Team and Children’s and Adult’s Services along with a number of other partners working together for the prevention of crime and disorder as well as for the wellbeing of children and young people. The meeting provides a forum for all agencies to refer and discuss those cases which cannot be resolved through the normal interventions of those agencies acting alone.

A protocol has recently been drawn up in order to ensure that the meeting is as focused and effective as possible. Emphasis is placed on identifying and implementing diversionary options before any enforcement action is sought.  This consultation process is vital to ensure that the required necessity test can be met for ASB enforcement.

Case study: Anti Social Behaviour Order application - October 2007

AB, a thirty five year old male was referred to the panel by the Police as being a demand on their resources owing to their anti-social behaviour and criminal activities.

• HBC Environmental Health and Portsmouth Housing Association reported resident’s complaints about AB owing to noise.
• The Youth Service identified that a number of young people had expressed concerns to them about the behaviour of AB in and around play areas and parks.
• The Police reported that AB was known to the Multi Agency Public Protection (MAPPA) team but was not responding to any interventions they had offered.
• The Probation Service representative confirmed that AB had recently commenced an order with them but had not engaged with previous orders. 

Having considered the above it was agreed that all parties would forward statements to the HBC senior litigation officer with a view to an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) being sought and that in the meantime an interim ASBO be obtained banning AB from certain areas.

The panel meeting is also used to review a small number of the ASBOs and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC’s) each month to ensure that all partners are aware just who is working with the individuals concerned and to identify where there are any gaps. Discussion is also held around how well the person has been adhering to their conditions which informs whether consideration should be given to revoking their orders and contracts or varying and extending them. Furthermore, the panel acts as a forum where agencies providing activities and courses for young people in the local area can seek referrals from partners. Recently the Princes Trust and Fire Service (LIFE week) have used the panel for that very purpose.