P15-2011 Anti-Social Behaviour Policy and Procedure - Dorset Police

• Anti Social Behaviour Policy and 

Procedure 

Reference No. P15:2011 

Implementation date 25 October 2012 

Version Number V1.0 

Reference No: 

Name. 

Linked documents 

Multi Agency ASB Policy for High Risk Victims: (Dorset County CSP, 

Poole CSP, Bournemouth CSP) 

Over arching Information Sharing Protocol (OAISP) 

P04:2011 Hate Crime policy and procedure 

Policy Section 

Procedure Section 

Yes 

No 

Suitable for Publication 

Protective Marking 

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PRINTED VERSIONS SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON. THE MOST UP TO DATE 

VERSION CAN BE FOUND ON THE FORCE INTRANET POLICIES SITE.

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Table of Contents 

1 Policy Section .......................................................................................................................3 

1.1 Statement of Intent – Aim and Rationale .........................................................................3 

1.2 Visions and Values ..........................................................................................................7 

1.3 Securing Trust and Confidence .......................................................................................8 

2 Standards ..............................................................................................................................8 

2.1 Legal Basis ......................................................................................................................8 

2.2 People, Confidence and Equality Impact Assessment.....................................................8 

2.3 Monitoring / Feedback .....................................................................................................8 

3 Consultation and Authorisation ..........................................................................................9 

3.1 Consultation.....................................................................................................................9 

3.2 Authorisation of this version.............................................................................................9 

4 Version Control .....................................................................................................................9 

4.1 Review .............................................................................................................................9 

4.2 Version History ................................................................................................................9 

4.3 Related Forms ...............................................................................................................10 

4.4 Document History ..........................................................................................................10 

ASB Policy & Procedure P15:2011 V1.0 2

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1 Policy Section 

1.1 Statement of Intent – Aim and Rationale 

These aims are supported by guidance provided within the Dorset Police ASB procedure 

and the Multi Agency ASB Policy for High Risk Victims. 

Dorset Police aims to: 

1. Ensure a clear objective for the prioritisation of competing demands based upon the 

‘Victim, Offender, Communities’ triangle; This triangle is a problem solving tool which 

helps teams to focus on defining the problem precisely, having identified the incidents to 

be included in the analysis. It is crucial to establish what it is about the place, caller or 

victim, and the offender or source of the problem that causes it to arise, and how and 

when this happens; 

2. Ensure a focused service delivery against threat, risk, harm and vulnerability; Promote 

the use of core performance measurements on which it can be evidenced that Dorset is 

safer and Dorset feels safer, utilising performance data produced by DORMIS (Dorset 

Police Management of Information System); 

3. Promote a consistent ASB procedure, which maps guidance for all relevant staff and 

business areas; 

4. Ensure ASB is correctly identified and recorded by Contact Management and that any 

identified crimes are recorded as such and dealt with appropriately; 

5. Identify repeat and vulnerable victims applying a consistent assessment of risk and harm 

and to ensure the effective support and resolution of identified problems; 

6. Ensure the completion of a risk assessment (Victim Vulnerability Assessment) of 

individuals, where appropriate, to establish their vulnerability and need for further 

partnership engagement and to enable partnership solutions; 

7. Train relevant staff in responses to ASB. They will receive refresher training when 

necessary, including the event of significant legislative change; 

8. Work with partners to identify and support those victims and witnesses who suffer most 

harm and /or who may be ‘vulnerable’ by use of a Multi Agency Risk Assessment 

Conference (case conference) approach to support appropriate cases deemed High 

Risk; 

9. Work with all partners who will consult and lawfully share information with other statutory 

agencies, having due regard to the Overarching Information Sharing Protocol, to ensure 

an appropriate level of support to victims and witnesses of ASB and the management of 

offenders; 

10. Work with partners to ensure perpetrators of ASB receive appropriate intervention within 

the criminal justice system. Interventions will vary for each case and may include options 

such as warning letters, ABCs, ASBOs, CRASBOs and ASBIs (injunctions); 

11. Ensure effective consultation and engagement with our communities and partners to 

better understand the extent and nature of the problems relating to ASB. We will work 


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with partners in ASB hotspots to explore diversionary and educational activities for those 

people who are, or are at risk of, offending. Forums including Tasking and Co-ordinating 

Groups (TCG) and Community Safety Partnerships (CSP) will consolidate this aim; 

12. Promote the use of positive and balanced media releases especially where young people 

are concerned. This is managed by the Neighbourhood Inspector and the media and 

corporate communications team; 

13. Encourage partner and voluntary agencies to support our communities to take a stand 

against ASB. The people of Dorset also have a role to play in tackling the problems 

within their own communities. 

Our priority is to make Dorset safer and feel safer. We will do this by being victim focused, 

ensuring that individuals and communities are offered the highest standard of service possible. 

Dorset Police seeks to minimise harm caused, allay community fears and achieve sustainable 

solutions to ASB related problems by consulting and working effectively with partner agencies 

and the community. We will take action, which is appropriate, consistent, proportionate and 

ethical. 

We understand that ASB, the fear of ASB, and the perceptions of ASB can have a serious impact 

on quality of life for an individual, and a community. It creates fear in our neighbourhoods, has a 

significant impact on community confidence and is often under reported. Consequently callers 

who call for the first time have often suffered in silence, or have reported incidents to other 

agencies, prior to calling Police. In addition, the degree of satisfaction that people have with the 

level of service they receive from the police, and local authority, can have either a positive or a 

negative effect on that person. This experience may influence future decisions regarding 

whether or not they report future ASB to an authority. 

We take all cases of ASB seriously and will work with partners to cohesively and robustly solve 

problems together, and to ensure we put Victims First. Tackling ASB is the responsibility of all 

statutory and many non statutory agencies. We will work with partners with the intention for 

perpetrators of ASB to experience an appropriate intervention within the criminal justice system. 

We will ensure a clear objective for the prioritisation of competing demands based upon the 

‘Victim, Offender, Communities’ triangle. When considering the use of any interventions, we will 

consider the underlying causes of the ASB. To obtain effective and sustainable outcomes we will 

consider the benefits of diversionary and educational activities. 

Definition of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) 

The very definition of ASB presents challenges. Different people possess differing levels of 

tolerance and expectations around behaviour. It is difficult to ascribe objective values to such a 

subjective and emotional response. 

However clarity and consistency around the definition is important in building confidence in the 

service. As and when we describe ASB rising or falling it is crucial that the public and other 

stakeholders have confidence in our statements. (Source: ACPO CFBA) 

We recognise these challenges and, as such, we recognise the following terms which seek to 

define ASB: 

“Anti-social behaviour is any aggressive, intimidating or destructive activity that damages 

or destroys another person's quality of life” 

Home Office 


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“That the person has acted in an anti-social manner, that is to say, in a manner that 

caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of 

the same household as himself” 

Crime and Disorder Act (1998) – pertaining to Anti Social Behaviour Orders 

“If a person is engaging, has engaged or threatens to engage in conduct which is capable 

of causing nuisance or annoyance” 

Housing Act (1996) 

NSIR (National Standards of Incident Recording) Categorisation 

ASB in NSIR 2011 reflects a case management ethos rather than an incident based approach. It 

considers the level of harm and encourages the management of risk with an emphasis on 

problem solving for vulnerable persons and communities. 

NSIR 2011, categorises Anti Social Behaviour as; Personal; Nuisance; Environmental. 

Personal is designed to identify ASB incidents that the caller, call-handler or anyone else 

perceives as either deliberately targeted at an individual or group or having an impact on an 

individual or group rather than the community at large. It includes incidents that cause concern, 

stress, disquiet and/or irritation through to incidents, which have a serious adverse impact on 

people’s quality of life. 

(Source: NSIR) 

Nuisance captures those incidents where an act, condition, thing or person causes trouble, 

annoyance, inconvenience, offence or suffering to the local community in general rather than to 

individual victims. It includes incidents where behaviour goes beyond the conventional bounds of 

acceptability and interferes with public interests including health, safety and quality of life. 


Environmental deals with the interface between people and places. It includes incidents where 

individuals and groups have an impact on their surroundings including natural, built and social 

environments. This category is about encouraging reasonable behaviour whilst managing and 

protecting the various environments so that people can enjoy their own private spaces as well as 

shared or public spaces. 


Incidents that amount to CRIME must be recorded and dealt with as crime in the first 

instance. 

Managing Vulnerable Victims, Locations and Prolific Offenders 

Vulnerability 

Vulnerability describes the potential to be harmed physically and/or psychologically. Dorset 

Police recognises and adopts the definition: 

“A victim of anti social behaviour is vulnerable if the conduct in question causes an 

adverse impact on their quality of life. Adverse impact includes the risk of harm; 

deterioration of their health, mental and or emotional well being; or an inability to carry out 

normal day to day routine through fear and intimidation.” 


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(Source: ACPO CFBA) 

Vulnerability – Process 

Victim Vulnerability Assessments (VVA) 

A Victim Vulnerability Assessment (VVA) will be completed to assist with the identification of 

repeat and vulnerable victims and to aide the decision making of Dorset police and partner 

agencies’ practitioners. It should also be used as a guide to help determine what support and 

protection is required, whether partnership intervention is necessary and to provide a common 

framework. 

A VVA is required following an initial complaint; and where the attending officer believes this to 

be Personal anti social behaviour; and a formal VVA will assist in identifying risk to that person (in 

support of their professional judgement). Officers will always complete a formal VVA if they 

require a structured multi agency approach. Where the full VVA exceeds an identified threshold 

(or otherwise in accordance with the professional judgement of the officer dealing with the 

complaint) a multi agency case management meeting will be convened with relevant partners. 

This formal process must not be allowed to inhibit early partnership interventions and provides a 

guide for the local frameworks that are in place. 

Dorset Police also employ an initial risk assessment, referred to as ‘TOPIC,’ which is 

utilised to identify risk at an early stage, such as telephone reporting. 

Managing Vulnerable Victims, Locations and Prolific Offenders 

The Force Tasking structures and processes, and Force intelligence provision (ASB ‘focus desk’) 

oversee the management of tasking and intelligence in relation to vulnerable victims, locations 

and prolific offenders. Where appropriate this will be undertaken by local Tasking & Coordinating 

Groups (TCG). 

Harm and threat to harm 

Harm includes physical damage to property, a financial loss or a reduction in confidence. It also 

includes the concept of a “threat to harm”, where we need to consider the capability and intent of 

the perpetrator versus the resilience of the ‘victim’. Harm is the element we want to remove or 

minimise through our interventions. Conflict management model principles can be applied 

effectively in certain ASB cases. 

Dorset Police recognises and adopts the definition: 

“ ‘harm’ is the actual hurt, damage or injury (physical, mental or financial) caused to the 

victim or community.” 


Risk 

Dorset Police recognises and adopts the definition: 

“The probability of social or personal harm to the victim or community.” 


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Implications of the Policy 

Best Value 

The accurate, consistent and ethical recording of crimes and incidents, in accordance with NSIR 

and NCRS, provides a critical source of business intelligence. Reliable information, about crimes 

and ASB incidents, supports effective decision making at strategic, tactical and operational levels 

and thereby enables the best use of resources. This, in turn, will optimise efficiency and 

effectiveness in terms of reducing and detecting crime, reducing anti social behaviour and 

maximising customer satisfaction. It is important to identify and record ASB accurately. If this is 

not done, the wrong symptoms will be identified, leading to the wrong diagnosis and ultimately 

the wrong prescription. 

Staff training 

Focused refresher training will be delivered to all relevant staff when it is identified as appropriate 

or where there is significant legislative or procedural change. This includes ASB and the effects 

of threat, risk, harm and vulnerability; explanations and guidance of NSIR and NCRS, in 

particular recognising and correctly identifying incidents of ASB and crime. Each Neighbourhood 

Inspector will ensure that there is effective liaison with partner agencies, appropriate exchange of 

information and management of ASB related issues, appropriate for their neighbourhood. 

Risk 

Failure to implement this Policy will compromise efforts to reduce ASB and other problems that 

affect quality of life for individuals and communities and may therefore increase the level of risk 

and vulnerability to individuals and communities. This could, in turn, impact on levels of 

confidence in, and satisfaction with, policing services. It will undermine efforts for Dorset Police to 

achieve its Policing Priorities and will also cause the wasteful deployment of resources and bring 

into doubt the integrity and reliability of performance data. Opportunities to intervene and 

rehabilitate offenders at an early stage of their offending behaviour will be lost. 

1.2 Visions and Values 

Dorset Police is committed to the principles of “One Team, One Vision” – A Safer Dorset for You” 

Our strategic priority is to achieve two clear objectives: 

• To Make Dorset Safer 

• To Make Dorset Feel Safer 

In doing this we will act in accordance with Our Values of: 

• Integrity 

• Professionalism 

• Fairness and 

• Respect 


1.3 Securing Trust and Confidence 

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This document seeks to achieve the Priority to Make Dorset Feel Safer by Securing Trust and 

Confidence. Research identifies that this is achieved through delivering services which: 

1. Addresses individual needs and expectations 

2. Improve perceptions of order and community cohesion 

3. Focus on Community Priorities 

4. Demonstrate Professionalism 

5. Express Force values 

6. Instil confidence in staff 

2 Standards 

2.1 Legal Basis 

Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, places a requirement on specified bodies 

(including the Police and Local Authorities) to do all they reasonably can to prevent crime and 

disorder in it’s area, including Anti Social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local 

environment. 

2.2 People, Confidence and Equality Impact Assessment 

During the creation of this document, this business area is subject to an assessment process 

entitled “People, Confidence and Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)”. Its aim is to establish the 

impact of the business area on all people and to also ensure that it complies with the 

requirements imposed by a range of legislation. 

2.3 Monitoring / Feedback 

The ASB reduction officers, within the Community Safety Department, will monitor the application 

of the procedure on an ongoing basis and formally review annually with due regard to the Force 

Control Strategy Delivery Plan. Delivery and compliance will be further monitored by the Force 

Tasking Groups and Force intelligence provision (ASB focus desk), with due regard to core 

performance measurements produced by DORMIS (Dorset Police Management of Information 

System), 

Feedback relating to this policy can be made in writing or by e-mail to: 

Sgt 1639 Goodwin - Territorial Policing – Ian.ison@dorset.pnn.police.uk 


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3 Consultation and Authorisation 

3.1 Consultation 

Version No: 1.0 Name Rank/Role Date 

Police & Crime 

Commissioner 

Police Federation C Chamberlain 17/02/2012 

Superintendents 

Association 

Supt M Cooper 17/02/2012 

UNISON D Potter 17/02/2012 

Other Relevant 

Partners 

(if applicable) 

3.2 Authorisation of this version 

Version No: 1.0 Name Rank/Role Date 

Prepared: Sgt R Goodwin Oct 2011 

Quality 

assured: 

Authorised: 

Chief Inspector P Kessell 19/04/2012 

Chief Supt. Martin Hiles 

(Commander Territorial Policing) 

19/04/2012 

Approved: ACC James Vaughan 19/04/2012 

4 Version Control 

4.1 Review 

Date of next scheduled review Date: 28 February 2013 

4.2 Version History 

Version Date Reason for Change Created / Amended by 

1.0 October Initial Document 

Sgt 1639 Goodwin/ Chief 

2012 

Insp Kessell 


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4.3 Related Forms 

Force Ref. No. Title / Name Version 

No. 

Review Date 

4.4 Document History 

Present Portfolio Holder 

ACC James VAUGHAN 

Present Document Owner 

C/INSP. KESSELL 

Present Owning Department 

ASB TACTICAL SUPPORT TEAM – 

Territorial Policing 

Details only required for version 1.0 and any major amendment ie 2.0 or 3.0: 

Name of Board: 

OCB 

28 FEB 2012 (though later small 

Date Approved: 

amendments made prior to publication in 

Oct 12) 

Chief Officer Approving: 

ACC Glanville 

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