Council and partners encourage victims of anti-social behaviour to report it

Cheshire West and Chester Council and its partners are encouraging victims of anti-social behaviour to report the problem, as they raise awareness of the issue during Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week 2022.

Running from 18 to 22 July, the event aims to encourage communities to take a stand against Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it.

ASB is defined as behaviour which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm and/or distress to others.  It can range from violence, threats or drug activity, to vandalism, youths congregating, litter or overgrown gardens.

If an immediate response is not needed, ASB can be reported here:

Council’s website.

To report a crime or ASB that needs an immediate response and is something that is happening at the time you are calling, you should contact Cheshire Police on 101 (Cheshire Police’s non-emergency number). In emergencies only, dial 999. 

More advice on how to report crime and ASB can be found on-line here.

Councillor Robert Cernik, Cabinet Member for Children and families and member of the Community Safety Partnership said: “Residents may not be aware of what is known as the ‘Community Trigger’.  This is a process which allows members of the public to ask the Community Safety Partnership to review its response to complaints of anti-social behaviour.

“The Trigger is designed to ensure we work together with our partners to try and resolve repeated reports of anti-social behaviour, where there has been inappropriate action, or no action, taken to address them.

“Where an application for the Community Trigger is successful, we will appoint a panel to review all reports of ASB made to the Council, Police or registered social landlords to determine whether appropriate action has been taken to address the problem.”

Chief Inspector Michael Ankers of Chester Local Policing Unit: “ASB can include things such as graffiti, littering and off-road motorcycles within the community and this activity creates an environment where more serious crime can take place.

“This type of behaviour might not seem serious to some people, but it can cause misery to local neighbourhoods, and I hope this week will show that if we all work together we can have a positive impact and drive down the levels of ASB.

“I would like to continue to urge anyone who feels that they are or have been a victim of ASB to get in touch with Cheshire Constabulary by calling 101 or reporting it online.”

The ‘Trigger’ can be activated if someone has reported the same problem three or more times in the last six months to the council, police or a registered social landlord.

You can request the trigger by any of the methods below.

• Email: community.safety@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
   
• Phone: 0300 123 8 123 – stating that you would like to request a Community Trigger
   
• Postal Address: Community Trigger, Community Safety Team, Cheshire West and Chester, Nicholas House Chester CH1 2NU

For more information about the Community Trigger visit: 

https://www.westcheshire-csp.co.uk/community-trigger/