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Community trigger

What it is and how to use it

The Community Trigger (CT) is introduced by the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. It gives victims and communities the right to request a review of their anti-social behaviour complaints and brings agencies together to take a joined up, problem solving approach to find a solution.  If a CT submission meets the defined threshold, a case review will be undertaken by the local Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Agencies will share information, review what action has been taken and decide whether additional actions are possible.

Who can use it

A victim of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) or another person acting on behalf of the victim such as a carer or family member, MP or councillor or professional person.  The victim could be an individual, a business or a community group.

When a Community Trigger is not appropriate

  • If someone has reported ASB and been given a timescale for response, which has not expired. They will be advised to contact the agency they are working with to discuss what is happening.
  • If someone has reported ASB and received a service but they are unhappy with the conduct of a particular agency. They will be advised to submit a complaint under the agency’s complaints procedures.

The process

  • The District Community Safety Manager is the single point of contact (SPOC) for all submissions.
  • Respond to victim confirming receipt of the Community Trigger (CT) within 3 working days and outline the timescales for a full response, which will not exceed 25 working days from receipt of the CT.
  • Initial assessment of a Community Trigger (CT) submission and risk assessment of victim to establish vulnerability, to be undertaken by District Council Community Safety Manager, Neighbourhood Inspector and relevant Social Landlord (if appropriate).
  • Decision to accept or reject a Community Trigger fed back to the victim by SPOC, with a clear explanation of the reason for the decision.
  • Review the CT and agree an action plan to address the outstanding ASB issue(s), which is then shared with the victim via SPOC.
  • Consider a peer review of the CT response by a neighbouring CSP.
  • Governance of the Community Trigger process will sit with the local Community Safety Partnership or other local agreed arrangement.
  • The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner will provide a route for victims to query the decision on whether the threshold was met or the way a CT review was carried out, if they remain unhappy following the Community Safety Partnership’s response.

Qualifying thresholds and forms

  1. A victim has reported three times in the last six months separate, but related, anti-social incidents to agencies and the problem persists. Complete Trigger 1 form.

or 

  1. A victim is aware that other people in the local community have reported separate, but related, anti-social incidents to agencies in the last six months and the problem persists.  The trigger will be started if five or more individuals have made separate, but related reports over a six month period. Complete Community Trigger 2 form.

Please note: a qualifying complaint of ASB is if the complaint is made within the period of one month beginning with the date on which the behaviour is alleged to have occurred.

Last Updated on Thursday, September 1, 2022