Resolve urges greater awareness following YouGov research
Despite more than half of people (56%) believing that ‘more needs to be done’ to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in their community, just one-in-fifty (2%) fully understand their rights to challenge the problem, according to a new YouGov survey.
The Community Trigger (also known as the ASB case review) is one of the Government’s flagship ASB policies. It gives people the right to request a multi-agency review of their case if they feel their complaints about anti-social behaviour have not been dealt with.
However, 94% of people said that they had never heard of the Community Trigger, with just 2% saying that they ‘fully understand’ their rights. The power was introduced in 2014 as part of a shake-up, which also saw Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) replaced with civil injunctions and the Criminal Behaviour Order.
Meanwhile, just 5% of people said they had received or noticed communications about their ASB rights in the last three years. 88% of people said that they were not aware of any communications during this period, while a further 8% said ‘don’t know.’
Overall, one-third (33%) of people said that ASB has got worse in their local area compared with 3 years ago, rising to 41% in the North of England. After they witnessed or experienced ASB, more than half of people (57%) said that they did not report it to anyone.
In order to tackle what is described as a ‘worrying’ lack of awareness, community safety group Resolve is organising the second UK-wide ASB Awareness Week between 18 - 24 July 2022. It is calling on councils, police forces, housing providers, the government, and other bodies to use the opportunity to raise public knowledge of powers to tackle the behaviour.
Rebecca Bryant OBE, Chief Executive of Resolve, said: “It is deeply concerning that despite the horrendous impact ASB can have, more than half of people affected do not report it to anyone.
“This new polling data lays bare the worrying lack of knowledge that people have about their rights when it comes to tackling ASB. The challenge is clear – the ASB sector needs to do much more to communicate with the public and to raise awareness of the powers available, including the Community Trigger.
“I would urge all organisations with responsibility for community safety and tackling antisocial behaviour to take part in ASB Awareness Week 2022. It’s time to back our communities and work together to make them safer.”
ASB Awareness week is next week, 18th – 24th July. Police CPI will be publishing a blog on the Community Trigger, as well as other topics, on these news pages throughout the week.
All survey figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2006 adults was undertaken between 1st – 4th April 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).